Virion-derived nanospheres for selective delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents to cancer cells

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to methods for producing papilloma-derived nanosphere particles that contain therapeutic, diagnostic, or other agents. The invention also provides nanosphere particle preparations that are useful for selectively delivering therapeutic, diagnostic, and/or other agents to cancer cells of subjects without eliciting a serotype-specific immunogenic response in the subjects.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional application No. 61/596,042, filed Feb. 7, 2012, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF INVENTION

Embodiments described herein relate to the fields of molecular biology and medicine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many therapeutic agents cannot be delivered effectively to treat cancerous cells by conventional means such as ingestion, injection, inhalation, and topical application because many of these agents are subject to rapid degradation. Further, direct systemic administration of many therapeutic agents often causes detrimental side-effects. For example, those agents that target actively dividing cells are not able to discriminate between actively dividing cancer cells and actively dividing healthy cells. Thus, in the process of destroying or inhibiting the rapidly dividing cancer cells, many of the healthy cells are also damaged.

Accordingly, there is an unmet need for targeting of solid tumor cells for the treatment of malignant diseases that will show an affinity for cancer cells, deliver therapeutic payloads that inhibit proliferation and/or destroy cancerous tumor cells without inhibiting and/or destroying normal cells.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In some embodiments, aspects of the invention relate to methods and compositions for delivering therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to a target tissue in a subject (e.g., mammal such as human). In some embodiments, methods and compositions are provided for creating and using virion-derived protein nanosphere particles (NSPs) that exhibit surprising selectivity for delivering molecules to tumors without targeting healthy tissue and without producing a serotype-specific immunogenic response in the subject. Accordingly, NSPs described herein are useful for delivering toxic agents to tumors with reduced risk to healthy cells. However, NSPs described herein also may be used to selectively deliver other therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents as aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, aspects of the invention are based on the selective tropism of NSPs described herein for tumor cells. The proliferation of tumor cells is characterized by inflammation of tumor sites, the ability of tumor cells to evolve HSPG (heparan sulphate proteoglycans) in a similar manner to basal membrane Keratinocytes, and the presence of various growth factor receptors known to congregate at the surface of tumor cells. In some embodiments, nanosphere particles described herein are attracted to one of more of these tumor specific properties.

Thus, in some aspects, provided herein are methods of selectively delivering an agent to at least one tumor (e.g., one or more) in a subject, the method comprising administering a tumor tropic nanosphere particle to a subject, wherein the tumor tropic nanosphere particle comprises mutated or modified human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein without a heterologous targeting agent, is associated with an agent, and is free of host cell nucleic acid and viral nucleic acid. In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle comprises wild-type HPV L2 capsid proteins. In some embodiments, the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein has an amino acid sequence alteration that modifies in the subject HPV serotype-specific immunogenicity of the capsid protein relative to a naturally-occurring capsid protein. In some embodiments, the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein has an amino acid sequence alteration that prevents in the subject HPV serotype-specific immunogenicity of the capsid protein relative to a naturally-occurring capsid protein. In some embodiments, the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein is a mutated HPV-16 or HPV-31 L1 capsid protein. In some embodiments, the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.

In some embodiments, the modified HPV L1 capsid protein has an amino acid that is PEGylated.

In some embodiments, the at least one tumor is pre-malignant or malignant. In some embodiments, the at least one tumor is metastatic. In some embodiments, the at least one tumor is a non-mucosal tumor. In some embodiments, the at least one tumor is a solid tumor. In some embodiments, the at least one tumor contains cancer stem cells. In some embodiments, the at least one tumor is an astrocytoma, an atypical teratoid rhaboid tumor, a bone or connective tissue tumor, a brain cyst, a choroid plexus tumor, a craniopharyngioma, an ependymoma, a germ cell tumor, a glioblastoma, a glioma, a hemangioma, a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, a lipoma, a lymphoma, a medulloblastoma, a meningioma, a neurofibroma, a neuronal tumor, a mixed neuronal-glial tumor, an oligoastrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma, a pineal tumor, a pituitary tumor, a primitive neuroectodermal tumor or a schwannoma. In some embodiments, the at least one tumor is located in the breast, cervix, ovary, testis, prostate, lung, lymph node, stomach, intestine, colon, brain, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the agent is a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the agent is an anti-cancer agent. In some embodiments, the anti-cancer agent is delivered to the subject in a therapeutically effective amount to treat (e.g., shrink or irradicate) the tumor.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent is an inorganic molecule, an organic molecule or a biologically active molecule. In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent comprises a small molecule, a protein, a peptide, an antibody, a toxin, a nucleic acid, a radioisotope, a radiolabeled molecule, a metal, an inducer of DNA methylation, a modulator of gene expression, an immune modulator, an enzyme inhibitor, a kinase inhibitor, an apoptosis inducer, a metabolism inhibitor, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent is a radioisotope or a radiolabeled molecule. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is an siRNA molecule, an shRNA molecule, a microRNA, a long non coding RNA, a hybrid DNA-RNA, a DNA molecule, an antisense molecule, a viral gene cassette, or any combination thereof.

In some embodiments, the agent is a diagnostic agent. In some embodiments, the diagnostic agent is an imaging agent or a contrast agent. In some embodiments, the diagnostic agent is labeled with a detectable label. In some embodiments, the detectable label is a fluorescent or radioactive label.

In some embodiments, the agent is encapsulated with the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the agent is mixed with the capsid proteins in the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the agent is chemically linked to an amino acid of one or more capsid proteins in the nanosphere particle.

In some embodiments, the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein is expressed, isolated and purified as a monomer or as an oligomeric capsomere from a host cell expression system. In some embodiments, the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein and the L2 capsid protein are expressed from different nucleic acids in a host cell expression system. In some embodiments, the host cell expression system is a bacterial, a yeast, an insect, a plant or a mammalian host cell expression system. In some embodiments, the bacterial host cell expression system is an Escherichia coli host cell expression system. In some embodiments, the capsid proteins and/or capsomeres are assembled in vitro to form the nanosphere particle.

In some aspects, provided herein are methods of producing a nanosphere particle for selectively delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a tumor in a subject, the method comprising, providing mutated or modified human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein that is free of (without detectable amounts or the detectable level is very low, e.g., less than 1%, less than 0.5%, less than 0.1%, less than 0.05%, or less than 0.01% relative to the capsid proteins) host cell nucleic acid and viral nucleic acid, and reassembling the capsid protein in the presence of a therapeutic agent or diagnostic agent.

In some aspects, provided herein are methods of producing a nanosphere particle loaded with a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, the method comprising, recombinantly expressing mutated human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein mutant and wild-type HPV L2 capsid protein in bacterial cells; isolating mutated HPV L1 capsid protein, wild-type HPV L2 capsid protein, mutated HPV L1 capsomeres, mutated HPV L1/wild-type L2 capsomeres, or a combination thereof; combining the capsid proteins and/or capsomeres with the agent and reassembly buffer containing salt and HEPES buffer, or salt and Histidine-HCl buffer; and dialyzing the combination of protein and reassembly buffer to produce HPV nanosphere particles loaded with the agent. In some embodiments, the reassembly buffer contains 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, and 40 mM HEPES (pH 6.8), or (2) 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, and 40 mM Histidine-HCl (pH 5.2).

In some aspects provided herein are methods of delivering and evaluating a cancer therapy comprising: (a) identifying a subject with cancer; (b) labeling tumor tropic nanosphere particles; (c) loading the tumor tropic nanosphere particles with a therapeutic agent; (d) administering a detectable amount of the nanosphere particles to the subject; and (e) determining the presence or amount of the nanosphere particles in the subject during and after a period of a treatment. In some embodiments, the label is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent label, a radioactive label and a chemiluminescent label.

For some viruses and other pathogens, tropism is recognized as a natural phenomenon which may be referred to as “host tropism” or “cell tropism” in which tropism refers to the way in which different viruses/pathogens have evolved to preferentially target specific host species. For example, HIV has a glycoprotein (gp120) which recognizes and binds specifically to the CD4 surface receptor cells of macrophages and T cells. In this example, the CD4 receptor cells and other necessary cofactors act as a stimulus in attracting human immunodeficiency virus to the surface of an immune cell. Recombinant Adeno Associated Virus (AAV) virions have been shown to exhibit tropism for respiratory epithelial cells (Flotte et al. 1992 Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol. 7:349-356).

According to aspects of the invention, NSPs derived from proteins of certain viruses described herein exhibit broad tumor tropism also referred to herein as universal tumor tropism. Accordingly, NSPs described herein can be used for targeting one or more tumors with a therapeutic agent, for example in a subject diagnosed as having cancer. In some embodiments, the term “subject” includes animals, such as warm-blooded mammals, for example, humans and primates; avians; domestic household or farm animals such as cats, dogs, sheep, goats, cattle, horses and pigs; laboratory animals such as mice, rats and guinea pigs; fish; reptiles; zoo and wild animals; and the like. Also, in some embodiments, NSPs described herein can be used to detect cancer in a subject by selectively delivering a diagnostic agent (for example a detectable agent, a contrast agent, or other diagnostic agent) to cancer tissue. In some embodiments, this can increase the detectability of cancer tissue or cells and/or enhance the contrast between cancer tissue or cells and surrounding healthy tissue, thereby assisting in the detection or diagnosis of cancer. It should be appreciated that diagnostic reagents described herein can be used alone or in combination with other diagnostic procedures to help detect or diagnose cancer.

In some embodiments, NSPs described herein can be used to target any tumor, because the NSPs do not discriminate between different tumor cells (e.g., relative to their preference of tumor cells over non-tumor cells). Contrary to expectations, NSPs described herein (e.g., NSPs containing mutated HPV L2 capsid proteins) display a strong universal tumor tropism for all types of tumor cells lines tested. In addition, in some embodiments NSPs described herein that are not taken up by solid tumor cells will be innocuously eliminated through normal biological routes. For example, NSPs that lack any viral genetic material or host cell genetic material will not replicate and will be eliminated without damaging healthy cells.

NSPs of the present invention provide a novel combination of viral proteins that can be assembled with drugs or diagnostic agents, and that have been shown to display a universal tumor tropism. Surprisingly, in some embodiments, modified NSPs having reduced or altered immunogenicity retain their ability to identify tumors with the same mechanism previously described by universal tumor tropism. Accordingly, modified NSPs (e.g., modified to reduce or prevent cross-reactivity with host antibodies, for example HPV antibodies) can be modified to deliver reagents (e.g., as surface modifications, as fusion proteins, and/or encapsulated or mixed within the structure of the NSP) selectively to tumor tissue or cells (e.g., to solid tumors). In some embodiments, radioisotopes are chemically attached to the surface of an NSP. In some embodiments, small molecule drugs are chemically attached to the surface or interior structure of an NSP. In some embodiments the charge of the interior or exterior of the NSP is modified with electrolytes to enhance the electrostatic interaction with the NSP and small molecule drugs. In some embodiments, siRNA, DNA, or drugs are mixed within the structure of the NSP.

NSPs described herein display a significant and surprising tumor tropism for primary tumors as well as to metastases derived from these tumors, even when metastases are distant from the primary tumor (e.g. brain, bone or lung metastases).

In some embodiments, it has been found surprisingly that an assembled NSP containing Papillomavirus L1 structural proteins but no Papillomavirus L2 structural proteins also displays universal tumor tropism. Accordingly, NSPs described herein that are derived from combinations of L1 structural proteins with therapeutics (but with no L2 protein) can also be used to target tumors.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods and compositions for producing virion derived protein nanoparticles containing one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents. The nanospheres particles of the present invention may be derived based on proteins found naturally in the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), the Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), the Polyoma Virus, the beta papilloma virus (β-HPV), alpha-papilloma virus (α-HPV), non-human Papillomavirus (Bovine Papillomaviurs, Macaque Papillomavirus, Cotton Rabbit Papillomavirus, Murine papillomavirus), Epstein Barr Virus, Parvovirus or the Rotavirus. In some embodiments, methods and compositions for encapsulating an agent within a NSP may require an initial isolation and purification of capsid proteins produced in a host cell system (e.g., yeast, mammalian cell, insect cell, E. coli) and subsequent reassembly in vitro. In some embodiments, methods and compositions for encapsulating an agent within a NSP may require an isolation and purification of capsid proteins produced in a cell free in vitro expression system such as E. coli lysate.

In some embodiments, methods for preparing an NSP to combine a therapeutic or diagnostic agent with papillomavirus proteins include: 1) total disruption and disassembly followed by loading of therapeutics and reassembly; 2) modifications to open pores with no disassembly followed by drug and closing of the pores; 3) chemical binding of radioisotopes to L1 amino acids; and/or 4) chemical binding of radioisotopes to L1 and L2 amino acids.

In some embodiments, provided herein are in vitro methods of encapsidating an agent within a virus-like nanosphere particle comprising: isolating viral capsid proteins directly from a host cell; incubating the capsid proteins with an agent in a reaction volume; and assembling the capsid proteins and agent to form a nanosphere particle, thereby encapsidating the agent within the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the capsid proteins comprise mutations that modify the serotype-specific immunogenicity in a subject.

In some embodiments, provided herein are intracellular methods of encapsidating a nucleic acid within a virus-like nanosphere particle comprising: providing a host cell that expresses a viral capsid protein; and incubating the host cell with a nucleic acid encoding a nucleic acid under conditions that promote intracellular nanosphere particle formation, thereby encapsidating the nucleic acid within the nanosphere particle intracellularly. In some embodiments, the capsid proteins comprise mutations or modifications that provide a modified serotype-specific immunogenicity in a subject that prevents cross-reactivity with pre-existing antibodies.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of isolating a viral capsid protein comprising: isolating nuclei or obtaining isolated nuclei from a preparation of host cells that express the viral capsid protein; sonicating the nuclei; and isolating the capsid proteins from the sonicated nuclei in the form of a monomer, capsomere or oligomer. In some embodiments, the methods of isolating a viral capsid protein comprise isolating the soluble fraction from the host cell where the monomer, capsomere or oligomer proteins are present. In some embodiments, the capsid proteins comprise mutations or modifications that provide a modified serotype-specific immunogenicity in a subject that prevents cross-reactivity with pre-existing antibodies.

In any one of the embodiments described herein, the viral capsid protein may be a papillomavirus capsid protein. In some embodiments, the papillomavirus capsid protein is L1. In some embodiments, the papillomavirus capsid protein is L2. In some embodiments, isolation of capsid proteins may include isolation of only L1 capsid proteins, only L2 capsid proteins, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the capsid protein is a new non-naturally found serotype derived from the human papillomavirus (HPV) serotype 16/serotype 31 L1 protein (HPV16/31 L1*) having mutations that reduces a subject's immunogenicity and antibody cross-reactivity to the protein.

In some embodiments, human papillomavirus capsid proteins are isolated from sonicated nuclei of host cells that express both L1 and L2 capsid proteins (wild-type and/or mutant). In some embodiments, the L1 and L2 capsid protein and/or capsomeres are obtained from the soluble fraction of the host cell (e.g. E. coli). In some embodiments, the L1 and L2 capsid proteins are independently expressed. That is, for example, L1 may be expressed by a first nucleic acid (e.g., plasmid DNA), while L2 may be expressed by a second nucleic acid, different from the first nucleic acid.

In some embodiments, an agent is a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent. In some embodiments, the agent is a nucleic acid, such as an expression modulatory nucleic acid (e.g., long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). In some embodiments the nucleic acid is a microRNA. In some embodiments the nucleic acid is a hybrid siRNA. In some embodiments the nucleic acid is an antisense oligonucleotide. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is a small-interfering RNA (siRNA), short-hairpin RNA (shRNA), or a vector encoding an siRNA or shRNA. In certain other embodiments, the agent is a nucleic acid (e.g., DNA) encoding for a biologically active protein. In some embodiments, the agent is a small molecule (e.g. taxane, SFU, Gemcitabine).

In some embodiments, provided herein are intracellular methods of encapsidating an agent within a human papillomavirus-derived nanosphere particle comprising: providing a host cell that expresses an L1 capsid protein encoding by a first nucleic acid and an L2 capsid protein encoded by a second nucleic acid different from the first nucleic acid; and incubating the host cell in the presence of an agent within the cell under conditions that promote intracellular nanosphere particle formation, thereby encapsidating the agent within the NSP intracellularly. In some embodiments, the L1 capsid protein comprises a mutation that reduces a subject's immune response and antibody cross-reactivity to the protein.

Any one of the embodiments described herein may further comprise purifying an assembled, loaded NSP.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of producing a virus-like nanosphere particle in a host cell comprising: expressing an L1 capsid protein from a first nucleic acid in a host cell; expressing L2 capsid protein from a second nucleic acid in the host cell, wherein the first nucleic acid is separate from the second nucleic acid; and isolating an assembled nanosphere particle from the host cell. In some embodiments, the ratio of L1 protein to L2 protein differs from a normal L1 protein to L2 protein ratio (e.g., different from ratio found in nature). In some embodiments, L1 capsid proteins are used without L2 capsid proteins.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods for selectively delivering an agent to a tumor in a subject, the method comprising administering a tumor tropic nanosphere particle to a subject, wherein the tumor tropic nanosphere particle is associated with an agent, and is free of host cell and viral nucleic acid, and wherein the tumor tropic nanosphere particle comprises one or more viral capsid proteins without a heterologous targeting agent (e.g., without being associated with or attached to an antibody, peptide, ligands, receptor-binding moieties, or other targeting molecule that a capsid protein would otherwise naturally be associated of attached).

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods for preparing a nanosphere particle for selectively delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a cancer in a subject, the method comprising, obtain viral capsid proteins without any host or viral nucleic acid, and reassembling the capsid proteins in the presence of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of producing human papillomavirus (PV) nanosphere particles loaded with an agent comprising: recombinantly expressing mutant PV L1 and wild-type PV L2 capsid proteins, or mutant PV L1 without any PV L2 capsid proteins in vitro in E. coli cells, wherein the mutant PV L1 capsid protein has mutations that differs from the wt HPV; isolating the L1 and L2 capsomeres, or L1 capsomeres; combining the capsid protein capsomeres with the agent and reassembly buffer containing salt and HEPES buffer, or salt and Histidine-HCl; and dialyzing the combination of protein and buffer to produce HPV nanosphere particles loaded with the agent.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods for delivering and evaluating a cancer therapy comprising: identifying a subject with cancer; labeling tumor tropic nanosphere particles; loading the tumor tropic nanosphere particles with a therapeutic agent; administering a detectable amount of the nanosphere particles to the subject; and determining the presence or amount of the nanosphere particles in the subject during and after a period of a treatment.

In some embodiments, provided herein are compositions for the treatment or diagnosis of cancer cells, the composition comprising a therapeutic or diagnostic agent formulated with a nanosphere particle, wherein the nanosphere particle comprises structural proteins from HSV, RSV, Polyoma, PV, Epstein Barr or Rotavirus.

In some embodiments, provided herein are compositions for the treatment or diagnosis of cancer cells, the composition comprising a therapeutic or diagnostic agent formulated with a nanosphere particle, wherein the nanosphere particle comprises a mutated or modified PV L1 protein, wherein the mutation or modification reduces or modifies the PV serotype specific immunogenicity of the nanosphere particle.

These and other embodiments are described in more detail in the following detailed description and examples.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows production of Pseudovirions (PsV) in 293TT cells

FIG. 2A shows capsomere particle production and purification method in E. coli and further loading and reassembly of Nanosphere Particles (NSPs) in vitro. FIG. 2B shows capsomere particle production and purification method in E. coli, in vitro reassembly into NSPs and further labeling with radioisotopes.

FIG. 3A shows western blot with L1 and L2 expression after isolation of soluble fraction from E. coli. FIG. 3B shows electron microscopic images displaying spontaneously reassembled particles after reducing agent (DTT) concentration was lowered and salt (sodium chloride) concentration was increased. L1/L2 capsomeres from E. coli homogenate were purified by affinity chromatography on a heparin column.

FIG. 4A shows NSPs production method in 293TT cell line. FIG. 4B shows NSPs production method in 293TT cell line and further labeling with radioisotopes.

FIG. 5 shows treatment of mice bearing a metastatic orthotopic ovarian tumor derived from SKOV-3 cells with NSPs and biodistribution comparison between tumor bearing and non-bearing animals. (A) Shows results show in vivo bioluminescent signals as taken 48 hours after dosing. A single injection was administered with NSPs-luc (0.65 ml) when tumor size reached medium to large by palpitation on day 77 post tumor implantation. (B) shows results of ex vivo tissue bioluminescent imaging of the primary tumor and tumors metastasized to the lung, the liver, the spleen GI-LN at 48 hours post dosing. Primary tumors and distant metastatic sites including lung, spleen, liver, mesenteric lymph nodes, femur and brain were dissected and imaged ex vivo for bioluminescence.

FIGS. 6A-6E show the treatment of mice bearing a metastatic orthotopic ovarian tumor derived from SKOV-3 cells with NSPs and PsV to compare the tumor tropism of the two types of particles. Graphs show a comparison between the biodistribution of NSPs and PSV particles delivering a luciferase reporter gene in an SKOV-3 ovarian orthotopic model. (A) shows a comparison of NSPs and PsV biodistribution found in the lungs in an ovarian orthotopic SKOV-3 model as determined by a luminescent reporter gene. (B) shows a comparison of NSPs and PsV biodistribution found in the liver in an ovarian orthotopic SKOV-3 model as determined by a luminescent reporter gene. Results show that both types of particles have a similar tropism both to the primary tumor (A) and to the distant metastases (E). This result demonstrate that NSPs containing mutant L1/L2 particles retain the tumor tropism observed with wild type PsV.

FIG. 7 shows plasmid pL1*L2 DNA sequence encoding mutant L1 (L1*) and L2 human codon-optimized (SEQ ID NO:1).

FIG. 8 shows HPVL1*-mutant DNA sequence (human codon optimized) (SEQ ID NO:2).

FIG. 9 shows HPVL1*-mutant DNA sequence (E. coli optimized) (SEQ ID NO:3).

FIG. 10 shows HPV6L2 DNA sequence (E. coli optimized) (SEQ ID NO:4).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In some embodiments, aspects of the invention relate to methods and compositions for producing virion-derived protein nanosphere particles (NSPs) that contain therapeutic agents or diagnostic agents for delivery selectively to cancerous cells of a subject without eliciting a serotype-specific immune response in the subject. Surprisingly, human papillomavirus (HPV) variants that have reduced immunogenicity retain broad tumor tropism. Accordingly, in some embodiments, methods and compositions have been developed for effectively encapsidating a therapeutic or diagnostic agent within NSPs (e.g., papillomavirus-derived nanosphere particles) that can be used to deliver the agent selectively, in some instances without a targeting molecule, to cancerous cells of a subject (e.g., a human subject), without harming healthy, noncancerous cells.

A “nanosphere particle” herein refers to an organized capsid-like structure comprising self-assembling ordered arrays of one or more viral capsid proteins that do not include a viral genome. Nanosphere particles are morphologically and antigenically similar to authentic virions, but they lack viral genetic material (e.g., viral nucleic acid), rendering the nanosphere particle non-infectious. Nanosphere particles may be produced in vivo, in a suitable host cell, such as mammalian, yeast, bacterial, or insect host cell. Nanosphere particles may also be produced in vitro in a cell free expression system (e.g. E. coli lysate).

In some embodiments, nanospheres may be assembled from proteins found naturally in herpes simplex virus (HSV), Rous sarcoma virus (RSV), alpha-papilloma virus (α-HPV), beta-papilloma virus (β-HPV), Non-Human Papillomavirus (Bovine Papillomavirus, Murine Papillomavirus, Cottontail Rabbit Papillomavirus, Macaque Papillomavirus), Epstein Barr virus, Hepatitis virus, Rotavirus, or other virus or virus-like particles. In some embodiments, a nanoparticle may be derived from the following: Adenoviridae, Papillomaviridae, Parvoviridae, Herpesviridae, Poxviridae, Hepadnaviridae, Polyomaviridae, Anelloviridae, Reoviridae, Picornaviridae, Caliciviridae, Togaviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Bunyaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Filoviridae, Coronaviridae, Astroviridae, Bornaviridae, or Arteriviridae.

In some embodiments, other virus proteins which may be used as delivery agents within the scope of the present invention are not limited to but may include: retroviruses, adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, lentiviruses, poxivurses, baculoviruses, and bacteriophages. Other viruses that are not tumor tropic can be modified by adding a target molecule to its structure.

In some embodiments, nanospheres are prepared using a variant capsid protein having one or more mutations that modify the viral serotype-specific immunogenicity that prevent antibody cross-reactivity. In some embodiments, the term “serotype-specific immunogenicity” includes the ability of a serotype-specific viral antigen or epitope to elicit an immune response (humoral and/or cell-mediated) in a subject. A serotype refers to a distinct variation within a species of virus (e.g., human papillomavirus serotype 16 (HPV16) and 31 (HPV31) are different serotypes based on their cell-surface antigens)

Infection by one or more human papillomavirus high-risk serotypes (e.g. HPV16) is causally associated with cervical cancer (zur Hausen H., Cancer Res., 1989, 49, 4677-4681). Native virions of HPV are nonenveloped 50- to 60-nm-diameter icosahedral structures composed of 72 capsomeres, and each capsomere is composed of five L1 capsid proteins (Baker, T. S., et al., Biophys J., 1991, 60, 1445-56; Trus, B. L., et al., Nat Struct Biol. 1997, 4, 413-20). Native virions of HPV also include L2 capsid proteins. A “capsid protein” refers to individual capsid proteins that assemble to form a viral capsid structure. A capsid protein can be in the form of a single protein monomer, or several capsid proteins can form an oligomer (e.g., pentamers, trimers). A “capsomere” refers to an oligomeric configuration of capsid protein. For example, capsomeres may comprise at least one L1 capsid protein (e.g., a pentamer of L1).

In some embodiments, capsid proteins are expressed intracellularly (in a host cell) in the presence of an agent to produce a nanosphere particle encapsidating the agent. A nanosphere particle encapsidating an agent is herein referred to as a “loaded” nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, a nucleic acid encoding a capsid protein (e.g., L1 or L2) is introduced into a host cell together with a nucleic acid encoding an agent, for example, a biologically active protein or peptide. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid encoding a capsid protein may encode more than one capsid protein, e.g., L1 and L2 capsid proteins. In some embodiments, two different capsid proteins are expressed intracellularly by introducing a first nucleic acid encoding a first capsid protein and a second nucleic acid encoding a second capsid protein such that each capsid protein is independently expressed by the cell. Expression of capsid protein in the presence of an agent results in intracellular formation (assembly) of nanosphere particles containing (encapsidating) the agent. Loaded nanosphere particles can be isolated directly from the host cell.

In some embodiments, one or more different capsid proteins are expressed intracellularly in the absence of an agent. In such embodiments, the assembled nanosphere particles are first isolated from the host cell, and then dissociated into individual capsid protein monomers and/or protein oligomers. These isolated capsid proteins may then be reassembled in the presence of an agent to produce a loaded nanosphere particle. Direct isolation of individual capsid proteins (rather than isolation of assembled NSPs) may, in some embodiments, reduce the risk of host cell contamination of the loaded nanosphere particle (e.g., with host cell nucleic acid, antigens, other exogenous material).

The terms “dissociated” and “disassembled” (used interchangeably) herein refers to the deconstruction of viral particles, capsids, or capsomeres into individual capsid proteins, for example, L1 and/or L2 capsid proteins. L1 and/or L2 capsomeres and/or capsid proteins that are isolated directly from cells can then be used in vitro to encapsidate a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, resulting in a “clean” preparation of L1 and/or L2 proteins, free of contaminating material (e.g., nucleic acid, antigens, or other material) from the host cell. The term “encapsidate” is also referred to herein as “loading” or “encapsulating,” and refers to the process of surrounding an agent (“payload”) with capsid proteins. The term “encapsulating” and “assembling” may also be used interchangeably herein when referring to a method of producing a nanosphere particle loaded with an agent. The term “assembling” refers to the process by which capsid proteins associate to form a capsomere, capsid, or nanosphere particle. The term “payload” and “agent” are used interchangeably and refer to any substance encapsidated within or attached to a nanosphere particle, for example, a therapeutic agent or a diagnostic agent.

In some embodiments, L1 and L2 capsid proteins are produced independently from independent nucleic acids (e.g., different vectors). In some embodiments, they can be produced in the same cell (e.g., using two different vectors within the same cell), or in a different cell (e.g., different host cells of the same type or different types of host cell). This approach allows the ratio of L1 and L2 proteins to be varied for either in vitro or intracellular assembly. The term “assembly” refers to the process by which capsid proteins come together to form a nanosphere particle. Independent production of L1 and L2 capsid proteins permits nanosphere particle assembly (e.g., in vitro or intracellularly) with varied ratios of L1 and L2, which may be advantageous during the delivery process. For example, a higher ratio of L2 to L1 in the assembled structure may result in a nanosphere particle having a higher nucleic acid binding affinity and more efficient intracellular delivery.

In some embodiments, L1 capsid proteins are isolated (e.g., from cells that express L1 alone, or from cells that express L1 and L2) and used independently of L2 capsid proteins. For example, L1 proteins may be assembled to form capsomeres or nanospheres that do not contain L2 proteins. In some embodiments, L1 proteins may be assembled (e.g., in vivo or in vitro) along with a payload to form a capsomere or nanosphere that encapsulates the payload (e.g., therapeutic or diagnostic agent). In some embodiments, an L1 capsid protein having one or more amino acid changes (e.g., a sequence alteration or a chemical amino acid modification such as a PEGylation or other modification) that reduce immunogenicity is used.

In some embodiments, nanospheres formed by L1 capsid proteins alone (with or without amino acid sequence modifications), for example HPV L1 capsid proteins, exhibit universal tropism as described herein and can be used for cell or tissue-specific delivery of one or more diagnostic or therapeutic agents.

In some embodiments, nanosphere particles or proteins are produced in insect cells, yeast, bacterial cells, or mammalian cells. In some embodiments, nanosphere particles or proteins are produced in cell-free expression systems.

In some embodiments, a nanosphere particle comprises a variant capsid protein having one or more mutations that reduce or modify HPV serotype specific immunogenicity. For example, a nanosphere particle may comprise a non-natural variant HPV-16 L1 protein having one or more mutations that prevents HPV 16 antibodies to cross-react with its structure.

In some embodiments, methods include delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a cancerous cell without delivering the agent to a non-cancerous cell, wherein the delivery vehicle is a nanosphere particle having reduced or modified serotype-specific immunogenicity. In some embodiments, methods include delivering a therapeutic agent to cancerous cells present at a single anatomical location or present at multiple, different anatomical locations, for example, cancerous cells (metastases) present in bone, lung and/or brain. In other embodiments, methods include inhibiting the proliferation of cancerous cells, without inhibiting proliferation of non-cancerous cells, wherein the cancerous cells are inhibited by delivery of an inhibitory agent, and wherein the delivery vehicle used to deliver the inhibitory agent to the cancerous cells is a nanosphere particle having reduced or modified serotype-specific immunogenicity. In still other embodiments, methods include detecting the presence of a cancerous cell at a single anatomical location or at multiple, different anatomical locations (e.g. metastases). In yet other embodiments, methods include monitoring the efficacy of a cancer therapy.

Variant Capsid Proteins Having Reduced or Modified Immunogenicity

In some embodiments, human papillomavirus (HPV) nanosphere particles comprise L1 capsid proteins, L2 capsid proteins, or both. The proteins may be wild-type or modified. In some embodiments, nanosphere particles comprise a naturally occurring HPV capsid protein and/or a variant HPV capsid protein having reduced or modified serotype-specific immunogenicity (e.g., in a subject). For example, in some instance, nanosphere particles comprises L1 and/or L2 proteins that have been modified (e.g., mutated, substituted, inserted, or deleted) to reduce immunogenicity against serotype-specific HPV antibodies. In some embodiments, nanosphere particles comprise L1 and/or L2 variant sequences that are not recognized by existing antibodies against HPV (e.g., HPV16L1), which may be present in subjects who have an HPV infection or who have received an HPV vaccine. Examples of variant capsid proteins are described in WO 2010/120266, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. A capsid protein may have an amino acid variation that results in reduction or avoidance of neutralization by the immune system of the subject. In some embodiments, a nanosphere particle contains a recombinant capsid protein (e.g., a recombinant HPV L1 and/or L2 protein) having an amino acid variation that results in altered protein immunogenicity in a subject. In some instances, a nanosphere particle having such reduced or modified immunogenicity may also retain its capability of packaging (loading) and delivering molecules/agents to a subject.

In some embodiments, an amino acid of a capsid protein is modified to enhance the positive charge of the nanosphere particle interior. In some embodiments, modifications are introduced to permit a stronger electrostatic interaction of nucleic acid molecules with an amino acid that faces the interior of the nanosphere particle, or to promote retention of the nucleic acid within the nanosphere particle (e.g., avoid leakage of nucleic acid molecules out of the nanosphere particle). As referenced above, examples of such modifications are described in WO 2010/120266. Any “modified” nanosphere particle (that is, any nanosphere particle containing a modified capsid protein) may be loaded with an agent for selective delivery to a diseased/cancerous cell, sparing normal cells.

In some embodiments, HPV L1 and/or L2 capsid proteins may be chemically modified such that the resulting protein comprises linkers that enable the binding of small molecules to its internal structure or to its external structure. In some embodiments, HPV L1 and/or L2 proteins may be fused to other molecules (e.g., lipids, polymers) that contain hydrophobic drugs (e.g., taxanes), which may provide additional functionality. In some embodiments, HPV L1 and/or L2 proteins may be fused to other proteins, which may provide tissue specific tropism. Examples of such modifications are described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,991,795, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. These other proteins may be viral or non-viral and may, in some embodiments, be host-specific or cell type-specific. Nanosphere particles may comprise a recombinant protein or fragment thereof (e.g., an HPV capsid and/or surface protein or fragment thereof). In some embodiments, nanosphere particles may be based on naturally-occurring particles that are processed to incorporate an agent as described herein. In some embodiments, one or more sequence variants may be used as described herein.

According to some aspects of the invention, nanosphere particles described herein exhibit tropism for specific cell types. In some embodiments, cancer cells and cancer metastases are targeted naturally by the particles without requiring any additional targeting agents. In some embodiments, cancer stem cells are targeted. Accordingly, nanosphere particles described herein can be administered to a subject without a targeting agent and the nanospheres will preferentially accumulate in tissues that contain tumor cells, tumor metastases, cancer stem cells, or a combination thereof. Accordingly, nanosphere particles described herein can be used to preferentially deliver therapeutic and/or diagnostic agents to these specific cells sparing other types of cells. In some embodiments, the tumors are non-mucosal (e.g., in non-mucosal tissue(s)). In some embodiments, the tumors are solid tumors.

According to aspects of the invention, nanosphere particles that contain modified capsid proteins (for example to reduce the immunogenicity of the capsid proteins, for example by altering the immunogenicity of the L1 capsid protein) also can retain tumor tropism properties that are useful for targeted delivery. These particles also have the benefit of evading detection by the host immune system, thereby increasing the amount or efficiency of targeting and delivery to the target cells of interest. According to aspects of the invention, nanosphere particles that contain L1 capsid proteins (for example modified L1 capsid proteins), but not L2 capsid proteins also can retain tissue tropism properties that are useful for targeted delivery.

However, it should be appreciated that other combinations of HPV proteins (e.g., capsid proteins) or peptides may be used herein. In some embodiments, one or more targeting agents (e.g., a targeting peptide fused to a capsid protein) may be used to enhance or alter the tissue tropism of the particles described herein.

In some embodiments, nanospheres that include capsid proteins with one or more amino acid alterations in a hypervariable or surface exposed loop retain the property of cell-specific or disease-specific targeting. These variant nanospheres can be used for targeted delivery according to aspects of the invention without using any other targeting agents. Examples of conformation-dependent type-specific epitopes that can be modified to alter immunogenicity are found on the surface of HPV nanosphere particles within hyper-variable loops, where the amino acid sequence is highly divergent between HPV serotypes. These loops are designated BC, DE, EF, FG and HI. Many neutralizing antibodies are generated against epitopes in these variable loops and are type-specific, with limited cross-reactivity, cross-neutralization and cross-protection. Different HPV serotypes induce antibodies directed to different type-specific epitopes and/or to different loops. In some embodiments, HPV L1 and/or L2 may be mutated at an amino acid position located in a hyper-variable, surface-exposed loop. The mutation may be made at an amino acid position within a loop that is not conserved between HPV serotypes. This position may be completely non-conserved (any amino acid may be at this position), or the position can be conserved.

Independent Expression Vectors

In some embodiments, an expression vector is used to express an HPV capsid protein, a variant HPV capsid protein, or a combination thereof. For example, in some embodiments, a mutant HPV 16L1 protein having reduced immunogenicity (referred to herein as “L1*”) is co-expressed with L2 in a host cell system (e.g., Sf9 or 293TT cells). In some embodiments, each protein is expressed by an independent vector (e.g., L1* is expressed by vector A, while L2 is expressed by vector B).

In some embodiments, L1 and L2 proteins are expressed in a host cell system from independent expression vectors (e.g., plasmids) as opposed to both being expressed from the same vector. The expression of L1 and L2 proteins from independent plasmids permits the relative levels of L1 and L2 comprised within a nanosphere particle to be optimized for particular applications. This control of L1 to L2 protein ratio also permits optimization of molecular structure for delivery of particular agents. In some embodiments, a variety of nanosphere particle structures can be produced to conform to the need of the different classes of agents (e.g., DNA, RNA, small molecule, and large molecule), both in terms of electrostatic charge and other functions (e.g., DNA binding domains, nanosphere particle inner volume, and/or endosomal release function). For example, nanosphere particles with a higher content of L2 protein will be better to bind nucleic acids (L2 contains a DNA binding domain), whereas nanosphere particles with a smaller content of L2 protein will be better for other small molecules. Nanospheres with different ratios of L1:L2 protein will have different interior volumes, which will permit a higher concentration of drug to be encapsidated. In some embodiments, the release of agent into the cell may also be modulated. In some embodiments, structures containing more L2 protein may have an increased ability to transfer nucleic acids intracellularly. Different ratios of L1:L2 may be used in any of the embodiments described herein. In some embodiments, a nanosphere contains L1 protein, but not L2 protein.

In some embodiments, each separate expression nucleic acid encodes an L1 protein (but not an L2 protein) or an L2 protein (but not an L1 protein) sequence operably linked to a promoter. In some embodiments, other suitable regulatory sequences also may be present. The separate expression nucleic acids may use the same or different promoters and/or other regulatory sequences and/or replication origins, and/or selectable markers. In some embodiments, the separate nucleic acids may be vectors (e.g., plasmids, or other independently replicating nucleic acids). In some embodiments, separate nucleic acids may be independently integrated into the genome of a host cell (e.g., a first nucleic acid integrated and a second nucleic acid on a vector, or two different nucleic acids integrated at different positions). In some embodiments, the relative expression levels of L1 and L2 proteins may be different in different cells, differ using different expression sequences, be independently regulated, or a combination thereof.

Host Cell Expression Systems

In some embodiments, a capsid protein (e.g., L1 and/or L2) is expressed in a host cell system. In some embodiments, more than one type of protein (e.g., L1 and L2) are expressed in a host cell system. In some embodiments, L1 and L2 are expressed in the same host cell (or system). In some embodiments, L1 and L2, or variations thereof, are expressed in different host cells (or systems). Any one of the proteins or nanoparticles described herein may be produced in an insect cell system, a yeast cell system, a bacterial cell system, a mammalian cell system, plant cell system or in a cell free expression system. Examples of host cell systems to be used herein include, but are not limited to, Spodoptera frugiperda (sf) cells, Escherichia coli cells, and 293T or 293TT mammalian cells. In particular embodiments, L1 and/or L2 and/or variants thereof are expressed intracellularly, where they may form capsomeric (e.g., oligomeric) structures during cellular growth (e.g., fermentation). Subsequent to structure formation, in some embodiments, the capsid proteins and/or structures may be isolated from host cell nuclei or from the host soluble fraction. Any suitable method may be used to isolate the nuclei, for example, sonication, or other isolation method. After isolation, capsid proteins and/or structures may be purified by any suitable means, for example, column chromatography, or other purification method. In some embodiments, rather than isolating the capsid proteins from cell nuclei, the proteins are permitted to assemble intracellularly in the presence of a payload to form loaded nanoparticles.

Directly isolating capsid proteins from nuclei of cells (rather than isolating assembled nanoparticles) provides several benefits. For example, in some embodiments, there is a reduced risk of encapsidating and transferring genetic information (e.g., DNA, RNA) from the host cell to a subject receiving the loaded nanoparticle. In some embodiments, isolated capsid proteins are assembled in a cell-free system with payload to produce a nanoparticle loaded with that payload (e.g. DNA coding for a biologically active protein, small molecule, RNA). In certain embodiments, de novo assembly of nanoparticles as described herein (as opposed to using pre-formed nanoparticles) results in a larger percentage of loaded nanoparticles.

In some embodiments, a capsid protein may be expressed recombinantly in any one of the host cell systems described herein.

Non-limiting examples of insect cell systems: in some embodiments, any one of the capsid proteins described herein may be expressed in Spodoptera frugiperla (Sf) cells, for example, Sf21 cells. In some embodiments, baculoviruses are used to express a gene encoding a capsid protein, for example, a gene encoding L1 and/or L2 and/or a variant thereof (including recombinant versions). In some embodiments, the capsid protein is an L1 or L2 protein from a designated serotype of human papillomavirus, for example, HPV16, HPV18, HPV31, HPV33, HPV34, HPV35, HPV52, HPV58, HPV73, and HPV91, and/or as described (Touze et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett., 2000, 189, 121-7; Touze et al., J. Clin. Microbiol., 1998, 36, 2046-51; and Combita et al., FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 2001, 204(1), 183-88). In some embodiments, a gene encoding a capsid protein is cloned into a plasmid, such as pFastBacl (Invitrogen). In some embodiments, insect cells may be maintained in Grace's insect medium (Invitrogen), or other suitable medium, supplemented with, for example, 10% fetal calf serum (FCS, Invitrogen), infected with recombinant baculoviruses, and incubated at 37° C. In some embodiments, cells may be harvest three days post infection, and the nanoparticle purified. In some embodiments, cells may be re-suspended in phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) containing Nonidet P40 (0.5%), pepstatin A, and leupeptin (1 μg/ml each, Sigma Aldrich), and incubated for 30 min at 4° C. Nuclear lysates may be formed into pellets by centrifugation, re-suspended in ice-cold PBS containing pepstatin A and leupeptin, and then sonicated. Samples may then be loaded on a cesium-chloride (CsCl) gradient and centrifuged to equilibrium (e.g., 22 h, 27,000 rpm in a SW28 rotor, 4° C.). Cesium-chloride gradient fractions may be investigated for density by refractometry and for the presence of L1/L2 protein by electrophoresis in 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel (SDS-PAGE) and Coomassie blue staining. Positive fractions may be pooled, diluted in PBS and pelleted (e.g., in a Beckman SW 28 rotor (3 h, 28,000 rpm, 4° C.)). After centrifugation, nanoparticles may be re-suspended in 0.15 mol/L NaCl and sonicated, for example, by one 5-second burst at 60% maximum power. Total protein content may be determined. Other techniques may be used, as embodiments of the invention are not limited by these examples.

Non-limiting examples of yeast cell systems: in some embodiments, any one of the capsid proteins described herein may be expressed in yeast cells. In some embodiments, capsid proteins may be expressed using a galactose-inducible Saccharomyces cerevisiae expression system. For example, leucine-free selective culture medium may be used for the propagation of yeast cultures, and yeast may be induced with medium containing glucose and galactose. Cells may be harvested using any filtration means. After resuspension, in some embodiments, cells may be treated with Benzonase and mechanically disrupted (e.g., using a homogenizer). Cell lysate may then be clarified using any filtration means. An exemplary protocol can be found in Cook et al. Protein Expression and Purification, 1999, 17, 477-84. Other techniques may be used, as embodiments of the invention are not limited by these examples.

Non-limiting examples of mammalian cell system: in some embodiments, any one of the capsid proteins described herein may be expressed in mammalian cell systems. Buck et al. (J. Virol. 2004, 78, 751-757) reported the production of papilloma virus-like particles and cell differentiation-independent encapsidation of genes into bovine papillomavirus (BPV) L1 and L2 capsid proteins expressed in transiently transfected 293TT human embryonic kidney cells, which stably express SV40 large T antigen to enhance replication of SV40 origin-containing plasmids. Pyeon et al. reported a transient transfection method that achieved the successful and efficient packaging of full-length HPV genomes into HPV16 capsids to generate virus particles (PNAS, 2005, 102, 9311-16). Transiently transfected cells (e.g., 293 cells, for example 293T or 293TT cells) may be lysed by adding Brij58 or similar nonionic polyoxyethylene surfactant detergent, followed by benzonase and exonuclease V, and incubating at 37° C. for 24 h to remove unpackaged cellular and viral DNA and to allow nanoparticle maturation. The lysate may then be incubated on ice with 5 M NaCl (to a final concentration of 0.8M NaCl) and clarified by centrifugation, or other clearing means. Nanoparticles may be collected by high-speed centrifugation, or other collection means. Other techniques may be used, as embodiments of the invention are not limited by these examples.

Non-limiting examples of bacterial cell system: in some embodiments, any one of the capsid proteins described herein may be expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells. In E. coli, in some embodiments, a potential contaminant of protein is endotoxin, a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that is a major component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria (Schadlich, et al. Vaccine, 2009, 27, 1511-22). In some embodiments, transformed BL21 bacteria may be grown in lysogeny broth (LB) medium containing, for example, 1 mM ampicillin and incubated with shaking at 200 rpm at 37° C. In some embodiments, at an optical density (OD600) of 0.3-0.5 nm, bacteria may be cooled, and Isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG) may be added to induce protein expression. In some embodiments, after 16-18 hours, bacteria may be harvested by centrifugation, or other harvesting means. Bacteria may be lysed by homogenizing, lysates may be cleared, capsid proteins purified, and LPS contamination removed using, for example, chromatographic methods, such as affinity chromatography or size exclusion chromatography, or other purification methods. Lipopolysaccharide contamination may also be removed using, for example, 1% Triton X-114. Other techniques may be used, as embodiments of the invention are not limited by these examples.

With reference now to FIG. 1A, a particle production method for nanospheres with will now be discussed. Prepare plasmid DNA expressing the capsid proteins of HPV16 L1 and L2 together or on separate vectors 121 and transform into bacteria 123. Over 24 hours the L1 and L2 proteins will be produced in the cell and will assemble into capsomeres 125. Next, harvest, lyse, nuclease digest; purifying using sucrose gradient and Heparin column 127 (or size-exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, di-filtration, or affinity chromatography). Collect purified cap someres 129. Reassemble purified particles with “payload” 131. A “payload” may include at least one or a combination of the following: DNA, siRNA, micro RNA, antisense oligonucleotide, small molecule drug, dye or radioisotope. Column purify to remove free payload 133.

With reference now to FIG. 2B, a particle production method for nanospheres will now be discussed. A recombinant DNA molecule containing a sequence encoding a papillomavirus L1 protein or a papillomavirus L2 protein or a combination of L1 and L2 proteins is manufactured 221 and then transfected into a 293TT cell line 223. Preferably, the NSP may express papillomavirus L1 protein or L2 protein or a combination of L1 and L2 proteins in the host cell. Over 48 hours the L1 and L2 proteins will be produced in the cell and will assemble into capsomeres and then fully assembled VLPs 225. Next, harvest, lyse, nuclease digest; purifying using sucrose gradient and Heparin column 227 (or size-exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, di-filtration, or affinity chromatography). Collect purified empty virus-like particles 229. Disassembly into capsomeres 231. Reassemble purified particles with “payload” 233. A “payload” may include at least one or a combination of the following: DNA, siRNA, drug, dye or radioisotope. Column purify to remove free payload 235.

With reference now to FIG. 3A, a particle production method for radio labeled nanospheres will now be discussed. Prepare plasmid DNA expressing the capsid proteins of HPV16 L1 and L2 together or on separate vectors 321 and transform into bacteria 323. Over 24 hours the L1 and L2 proteins will be expressed in the cell and will assemble into capsomeres 325. Next, harvest, lyse, nuclease digest; purify using sucrose gradient and Heparin column 327 or size-exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, di-filtration, or affinity chromatography. Collect purified capsomeres 329. Reassemble into empty nanosphere particles 331. Label particles with radioactive isotope 333. Column purify to remove free isotopes and enrich for radiolabeled nanosphere particles 335.

With reference now to FIG. 3B, a particle production method for nanospheres will now be discussed. A plasmid expressing the capsid proteins of HPV-L1 and L2 421 and transfect into a 293TT cell line 423. Over 48 hours the L1 and L2 proteins will be produced in the cell and will self-assemble into empty virus-like particles 425. Next, harvest, detergent lyse, nuclease digest, and gradient purify and Heparin column 427 (or size-exclusion chromatography, ion exchange chromatography, di-filtration, or affinity chromatography). Collect purified empty virus-like particles 429. Label particles with radioactive isotope 431. Column purify to remove free isotopes and enrich for radiolabeled nanosphere particles 433.

A single potency curve on the basis of internalized immunotoxin has shown a sharp reduction in viability once cells internalized >5×106 molecules (Pirie et al. (2011) The Journal Of Biological Chemistry, Vol. 286, No. 6, pp 4165-4172). Accordingly, according to one aspect of the present invention, the production of the immunotoxins to a level of fifty percent cytotoxicity is a function of the time for proliferating tumor cell to uptake plasmid DNA, replicate, transcribe and translate and produce enough immunotoxin to reach levels of at least 50% cytotoxicity as a function of time.

Loading with Therapeutic Agents and/or Diagnostic Agents

Some embodiments described herein relate to methods for producing nanosphere particles having (encapsidating) a medical, a therapeutic, or a diagnostic agent, or a combination thereof.

In some embodiments, a nanosphere particle loaded with an agent may be delivered to a diseased cell/tissue (e.g., cancerous cell). In some embodiments, a tissue may have pre-malignant disease (e.g., cervical dysplasia, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, prostate intraepithelial neoplasia). In some embodiments the pre-malignant diseased tissue may be infected with a virus, such as HPV or HSV. In some embodiments, nanosphere particles may be used to deliver therapeutic agents to treat pre-malignant disease or condition, and/or may be used to deliver diagnostic agents to diagnose pre-malignant diseases or conditions. For example, fluorophores, quantum dots, metals, radioisotopes and/or other imaging agents may be loaded into nanosphere particles and delivered to the pre-malignant cells of a subject. In some embodiments, agents may be used to track early stage diseases (e.g., early stage lung cancer, early stage prostate cancer). Any suitable therapeutic, diagnostic and/or other medical agent may be loaded into the nanosphere particle according to the methods described herein and subsequently delivered to a subject. Examples of methods for the administration of nanosphere particles to subjects are described for example in U.S. Pat. No. 7,205,126, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

After isolation of L1 and L2 capsid proteins which may be in the form of monomers or oligomers (e.g,. pentamers), nanosphere particles may be assembled and loaded, as described herein.

Loading of a nanosphere particle with an agent utilizing a ‘disassembly/reassembly’ method has been described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,416,945 and International Publication No. WO 2010/120266, each incorporated herein by reference. Any one of the previously described loading methods or methods described herein may be used to encapsidate a therapeutic agent, for example a gene encoding a therapeutic protein, or a diagnostic agent. However, it should be appreciated that any suitable method may be used as aspects of the invention are not limited in this respect.

In some embodiments, a loading method comprises incubating a nanosphere particle in a buffer of ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and dithiothreitol (DTT). Under this condition, a nanosphere particle completely disaggregated into monomeric and/or olgomeric capsid protein structures. A diagnostic or therapeutic agent as described herein may then be combined with the disaggregated capsid protein structures, and then diluted in a buffer of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and calcium chloride (CaCl2) with or without zinc chloride (ZnCl2) in order to reassemble the capsid proteins into a nanosphere particle, thereby encapsidating the agent. In some embodiments, the presence of ZnCl2 increases the reassembly of capsid proteins into a nanosphere particle. Other salts useful in aiding disassembly/reassembly of viral capsid proteins into nanosphere particles are those that include, for example, zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), ruthenium (Ru), and iron (Fe). Other salts may also be used in the embodiments described herein.

In some embodiments, loading of a nanosphere particle does not require an initial nanosphere particle disassembly step.

In some embodiments, the efficacy of nanosphere particle loading and delivery to a cell may depend, at least in part, on the particular ratio of (a) capsid protein to reaction volume, (b) therapeutic or diagnostic agent (e.g., therapeutic protein) to capsid protein, (c) therapeutic or diagnostic agent to reaction volume, or other ratio of components. A nanosphere particle loaded with an agent, using a method described herein, in some embodiments, effectively delivers the agent to at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, 96%, 97%, 98%, 99%, or 99.9% of target cells (for example, when measured in a cell-based assay).

In some embodiments, a nanosphere particle may be loaded with an agent using a method comprising: (a) contacting a preparation of capsid proteins with the agent in a reaction volume, wherein (i) the ratio of capsid protein to reaction volume may range from 0.01 μg capsid protein per 1 μl reaction volume to 0.1 μg capsid protein per 1 μl reaction volume, or from 0.1 μg capsid protein per 1 μl reaction volume to 1 μg capsid protein per 1 μl reaction volume; (ii) the ratio of agent to capsid protein may range from 0.01 μg agent per 1 μg capsid protein to 0.1 μg agent per 1 μg capsid protein, or from 0.1 μg agent per 1 μg capsid protein to 10 μg agent per 1 μg capsid protein, and/or (iii) the ratio of agent to reaction volume may range from 0.001 μg agent per 1 μl reaction volume to 1 μg agent per 1 μl reaction volume, or from 0.01 μg agent per 1 μl reaction volume to 10 μg agent per 1 μl reaction volume; and (b) reassembling the capsid proteins to form a nanosphere particle, thereby encapsidating the agent within the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the ratio of capsid protein to reaction volume ranges from 0.2 μg capsid protein per 1 μl reaction volume to 0.6 μg capsid protein per 1 μl reaction volume; the ratio of nucleic acid to capsid protein ranges from 0.5 μg agent per 1 μg capsid protein to 3.5 μg agent per 1 μg capsid protein; and the ratio of agent to reaction volume ranges from 0.2 μg agent per 1 μl reaction volume to 3 μg agent per 1 μl reaction volume.

In some embodiments, dissociating a nanosphere particle or capsid protein oligomers can be performed in a solution comprising ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and/or ethylene glycol tetraacetic acid (EGTA) and dithiothreitol (DTT), wherein the concentration of EDTA and/or EGTA ranges from 0.3 mM to 30 mM and the concentration of DTT ranges from 2 mM to 200 mM. In certain embodiments, the concentration of EDTA and/or EGTA ranges from 1 mM to 5 mM. In certain embodiments, the concentration of DTT ranges from 5 mM to 50 mM. Other reagents, volumes, and concentrations may be used, as embodiments of the invention are not limited by these examples.

The step of reassembling capsid proteins into a nanosphere particle may be carried out in a solution comprising dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), CaCl2 and ZnCl2, wherein the concentration of DMSO ranges from 0.03% to 3% volume/volume, the concentration of CaCl2 ranges from 0.2 mM to 20 mM, and the concentration of ZnCl2 ranges from 0.5 μM to 50 μM. In some embodiments, the concentration of DMSO ranges from 0.1% to 1% volume/volume. In some embodiments, the concentration of ZnCl2 ranges from 1 μM to 20 μM. In some embodiments, the concentration of CaCl2 ranges from 1 mM to 10 mM.

In some embodiments, the loading method is further modified to stabilize the nanosphere particle, in that the loading reaction is dialyzed against hypertonic NaCl solution (e.g., using a NaCl concentration of about 500 mM) instead of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), as was previously described. Surprisingly, this reduces the tendency of the loaded nanosphere particle to form larger agglomerates and precipitate. In some embodiments, the concentration of NaCl ranges between 5 mM and 5 M. In some embodiments, the concentration of NaCl ranges between 20 mM and 1 M.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be used to encapsulate nucleic acids, for example, RNA interference (RNAi) nucleic acids. In some embodiments, short interfering RNA (siRNA), a short hairpin RNA (shRNA), microRNA, long non coding RNA (lncRNA), hybrid DNA-RNA or an antisense nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) is transfected into host cells (e.g., 293 cells or other mammalian or insect host cells) during the production of the nanosphere particles. Accordingly, loaded nanosphere particles may be produced intracellularly to later provide efficient gene silencing effects when delivered to a cell of a subject. In some embodiments, a plasmid is used to express the nucleic acid molecule. In some embodiments, the plasmid may be ˜2 kilobases (kb) to ˜6 kb in size, or larger. In some embodiments, smaller plasmids may be used. In some embodiments, a nanosphere particle encapsidates a plasmid that is designed to be expressed (and ultimately functional) within a target cell, for example, a cancerous cell of a subject to which the nanosphere particle is selectively delivered. Consequently, the silencing nucleic acid encoded by the plasmid will be active within the target cell, resulting in knockdown of the targeted gene.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent is an inducer of RNA interference or other inducer of gene silencing. An inducer of RNA interference may be a siRNA, a shRNA, a hybrid nucleic acid molecule comprising a first part that comprises a duplex ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule and a second part that comprises a single stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule, a longer double-stranded RNA or a DNA construct for expression of siRNA or longer RNA sequences. Other inducers or modulators of gene expression include inducers of DNA methylation, or ribozymes, or aptamers. In other embodiments, the therapeutic agent can be a modulator of gene expression such as a PNA (Peptide Nucleic Acid).

RNA interference (RNAi) is a process whereby the introduction of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into a cell inhibits gene expression post-transcriptionally, in a sequence dependent fashion. RNAi can be mediated by short (for example 19-25 nucleotides) dsRNAs or small interfering RNAs (siRNA). Double-stranded RNA is cleaved in the cell to create siRNAs that are incorporated into an RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC), guiding the complex to a homologous endogenous mRNA, cleaving the mRNA transcript, and resulting in the destruction of the mRNA.

To induce RNA interference in a cell, dsRNA may be introduced into the cell as an isolated nucleic acid fragment or via a transgene, plasmid, or virus. In some embodiments, nanosphere particles are used to deliver dsRNA to the target cells.

In some embodiments, a short hairpin RNA molecule (shRNA) is expressed in the cell. A shRNA comprises short inverted repeats separated by a small loop sequence. One inverted repeat is complimentary to the gene target. The shRNA is then processed into an siRNA which degrades the target gene mRNA. shRNAs can be produced within a cell with a DNA construct encoding the shRNA sequence under control of a RNA polymerase III promoter, such as the human H1, U6 or 7SK promoter. Alternatively, the shRNA may be synthesized exogenously and introduced directly into the cell, for example through nanosphere particle delivery. In some embodiments, the shRNA sequence is between 40 and 100 bases in length or between 40 and 70 bases in length. The stem of the hairpin are, for example, between 19 and 30 base pairs in length. The stem may contain G-U pairings to stabilize the hairpin structure.

Short-interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences are selected on the basis of their homology to the target gene. Homology between two nucleotide sequences may be determined using a variety of programs including the BLAST program (Altschul et al. J. Mol. Biol., 1990, 215, 403-10), or BestFit (Genetics Computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wis., USA, Wisconsin 53711). Sequence comparisons may be made using FASTA and FASTP (see Pearson & Lipman, 1988. Methods in Enzymology 183: 63-98). Tools for design and quality of siRNAs, shRNAs and/or miRNAs are known in the art. Web-based online software system for designing siRNA sequences and scrambled siRNA sequences are for example siDirect, siSearch, SEQ2SVM, Deqor, siRNA Wizard (InvivoGen). The specificity can be predicted using for example SpecificityServer, miRacle. Target sequences can be researched for example at HuSiDa (Human siRNA Database), and siRNAdb (a database of siRNA sequences). Sequence comparison may be made over the full length of the relevant sequence, or may more preferably be over a contiguous sequence of about or 10, 15, 20, 25 or 30 bases. In some embodiments, the degree of homology between the siRNA and the target gene is at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 85%, at least 90%, at least 95%, at least 97%, or at least 99%, or 100%. The siRNA may be between 10 bp and 30 bp in length, or between 20 bp and 25 bp, or the siRNA is 20, 21 or 22 bp in length.

Short-interfering RNA molecules may be synthesized using standard solid or solution phase synthesis techniques which are known in the art.

In some embodiments, the siRNA has an overhang at one or both ends of one or more deoxythymidine bases to increase the stability of the siRNA within cells by reducing its susceptibility to degradation by nucleases.

In some embodiments, the siRNA is a hybrid nucleic acid molecule comprising a first part that comprises a duplex ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecule and a second part that comprises a single stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) molecule. Targets for the RNA interference would include disease causing genes e.g. oncogenes, inflammatory genes, regulatory genes, metabolic genes, viral genes. In one embodiments of the invention the target genes would be E6, E7, p53, Sirt-1, survivin, EGFR, VEGFR, VEGF, CTNNB1 or other oncogenes.

Linkages between nucleotides may be phosphodiester bonds or alternatives, for example, linking groups of the formula P (O) S, (thioate); P (S) S, (dithioate); P (O) NR′2; P (O) R′; P (O) OR6; CO; or CONR′2 wherein R is H (or a salt) or alkyl (1-12C) and R6 is alkyl (1-9C) is joined to adjacent nucleotides through —O— or —S—.

Modified nucleotide bases can be used in addition to the naturally occurring bases. For example, modified bases may increase the stability of the siRNA molecule, thereby reducing the amount required for silencing. The term modified nucleotide base encompasses nucleotides with a covalently modified base and/or sugar. For example, modified nucleotides include nucleotides having sugars which are covalently attached to low molecular weight organic groups other than a hydroxyl group at the 3′ position and other than a phosphate group at the 5′ position. Thus modified nucleotides may also include 2′ substituted sugars such as 2′-0-methyl-; 2-0-alkyl; 2-0-allyl; 2′-S-alkyl; 2′-S-allyl; 2′-fluoro-; 2′-halo or 2; azido-ribose, carbocyclic sugar analogues a-anomeric sugars; epimeric sugars such as arabinose, xyloses or lyxoses, pyranose sugars, furanose sugars, and sedoheptulose.

Modified nucleotides are known in the art and include alkylated purines and pyrimidines, acylated purines and pyrimidines, and other heterocycles. These classes of pyrimidines and purines are known in the art and include pseudoisocytosine, N4,N4-ethanocytosine, 8-hydroxy-N6-methyladenine, 4-acetylcytosine, 5-(carboxyhydroxylmethyl) uracil, 5 fluorouracil, 5-bromouracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouracil, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl uracil, dihydrouracil, inosine, N6-isopentyl-adenine, 1-methyladenine, 1-methylpseudouracil, 1-methylguanine, 2,2-dimethylguanine, 2methyladenine, 2-methylguanine, 3-methylcytosine, 5-methylcytosine, N6-methyladenine, 7-methylguanine, 5-methylaminomethyl uracil, 5-methoxy amino methyl-2-thiouracil, -D-mannosylqueosine, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyluracil, 5methoxyuracil, 2 methylthio-N6-isopentenyladenine, uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methyl ester, psueouracil, 2-thiocytosine, 5-methyl-2 thiouracil, 2-thiouracil, 4-thiouracil, 5methyluracil, N-uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methylester, uracil 5-oxyacetic acid, queosine, 2-thiocytosine, 5-propyluracil, 5-propylcytosine, 5-ethyluracil, 5ethylcytosine, 5-butyluracil, 5-pentyluracil, 5-pentylcytosine, and 2,6, diaminopurine, methylpsuedouracil, 1-methylguanine, 1-methylcytosine.

In some embodiments, siRNA molecules or longer dsRNA molecules may be made recombinantly by transcription of a nucleic acid sequence, for example contained within a vector as described herein. The vector may be any RNA or DNA vector.

In some embodiments, the vector can be an expression vector, wherein the nucleotide sequence is operably linked to a promoter compatible with the cell. Promoters suitable for use in various vertebrate systems are well known in the art. For example, suitable promoters include viral promoters such as mammalian retrovirus or DNA virus promoters, e.g., MLV, CMV, RSV, SV40 IEP (immediate early promoter) and adenovirus promoters and metallothionein promoter. Strong mammalian promoters may also be used. It will be appreciated that variants of such promoters retaining substantially similar transcriptional activities may also be used.

In some embodiments, the vector may have at least two promoters, one to direct expression of the sense strand and one to direct expression of the antisense strand of the dsRNA. In other embodiments, two vectors may be used, one for the sense strand and one for the antisense strand. Alternatively the vector may encode RNAs which form stem-loop structures which are subsequently cleaved by the cell to produce dsRNA.

The nucleic acid construct may contain a specific cellular, viral or other promoter or repressor of gene expression. The promoter or repressor may be designed to reflect the context of the cell into which the construct is introduced. For example, the construct may contain a viral promoter so expression from the construct is dependent upon the presence of a viral protein, so that the construct is expressed only in viral-infected cells. Similarly, the construct may have a promoter or repressor specific to certain cell types or to certain developmental stages. For example, where the vector is for use in virally infected cell such as cells infected with HPV, a viral promoter which matches the disease-causing virus should be used, e.g., a HPV promoter (such as the promoter causing expression of HPV E6/E7) for HPV-infected cells. In such embodiments, the vector will only be expressed in the virally-infected cells.

Nucleic acids are highly charged and do not cross cell membranes by free diffusion. The hydrophilic character and anionic backbone of nucleic acids such as, for example, siRNAs reduces their uptake by the cells. In some embodiments, nucleic acids (e.g., siRNA) may be loaded into nanosphere particle (e.g., HPV-nanosphere particle) to efficiently deliver them to a subject through administration of nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, encapsulating the nucleic acid into a nanosphere particle increases cellular uptake, allows traversal of biological membrane barriers in vivo, and/or increases the bioavailability of the nucleic acid (e.g., siRNA).

In some embodiments, the agent loaded into the nanosphere particle is an anti-viral agent. In some embodiments, the agent is an anticancer agent. In some embodiments, the anticancer agent is a taxane and/or a platinum (e.g., cisplatinum, carboplatinum, oxaliplatinum).

In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be used to encapsidate radioisotopes or radionuclides. In some embodiments, NSPs encapsidating such radioisotopes or radionuclides may be used to treat cancerous cells. Examples of radioisotopes that may be used with the methods described herein include, but are not limited to, lutetium-177 (prepared from ytterbium-176, which is irradiated to become Yb-177, which decays rapidly to Lu-177), yttrium-90, iodine-131, phosphorus-32, boron-10, actinium-225, ismuth-213, lead-212, bismuth-212, polonium-212, thallium-208, Pb-208.

In some embodiments, the methods described herein may be used to encapsidate small molecules or large molecules such as, for example, biologics, oncolytic viral proteins, or a toxic agent, inducers of DNA methylation, recombinant DNA, ribosomes, aptamers, modulators of gene expression, proteins, antibodies, siRNA or antisense molecules, biological therapies, viral gene cassettes such as the myc-gene, viral proteins such as the P30 retrovirus protein, or oncolytic viral proteins. Other small or large molecules may be encapsidated. In some embodiments, two or more therapeutic agents may be encapsidated.

In some embodiments, radioisotopes are useful to treat cancer by killing cancer cells (for example by inducing apoptosis). In some embodiments, compositions and methods of the invention can be used for selectively targeting radioisotopes to cancer cells. Nanospheres described herein can be loaded with one or more radioisotopes and administered systemically to a subject (for example a subject having one or more indicia of cancer). Due to the tropism of the nanosphere the radioisotope(s) will be delivered selectively to the cancer cells, and will be taken up and directed to the cell nuclei, where the effect of apoptosis will be maximized.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent that may be loaded into a nanosphere particle using the methods described herein is a chemotherapeutic agent, for instance, methotrexate, vincristine, adriamycin, cisplatin, carboplatin, oxaliplatin, non-sugar containing chloroethylnitrosoureas, 5-fluorouracil, mitomycin C, bleomycin, doxorubicin, dacarbazine, paclitaxel, docetaxel, fragyline, Meglamine GLA, valrubicin, carmustaine and poliferposan, MMI270, BAY 12-9566, RAS famesyl transferase inhibitor, famesyl transferase inhibitor, MMP, MTA/LY231514, LY264618/Lometexol, Glamolec, CI-994, TNP-470, Hycamtin/Topotecan, PKC412, Valspodar/PSC833, Novantrone/Mitroxantrone, Metaret/Suramin, Batimastat, E7070, BCH-4556, CS-682, 9-AC, AG3340, AG3433, Incel/VX-710, VX-853, ZD0101, IS1641, ODN 698, TA 2516/Marmistat, BB2516/Marmistat, CDP 845, D2163, PD183805, DX8951f, Lemonal DP 2202, FK 317, Picibanil/OK-432, AD 32/Valrubicin, Metastron/strontium derivative, Temodal/Temozolomide, Evacet/liposomal doxorubicin, Yewtaxan/Paclitaxel, Taxol/Paclitaxel, Xeload/Capecitabine, Furtulon/Doxifluridine, Cyclopax/oral paclitaxel, Oral Taxoid, SPU-077/Cisplatin, HMR 1275/Flavopiridol, CP-358 (774)/EGFR, CP-609 (754)/RAS oncogene inhibitor, BMS-182751/oral platinum, UFT (Tegafur/Uracil), Ergamisol/Levamisole, Eniluracil/776C85/5FU enhancer, Campto/Levamisole, Camptosar/Irinotecan, Tumodex/Ralitrexed, Leustatin/Cladribine, Paxex/Paclitaxel, Doxil/liposomal doxorubicin, Caelyx/liposomal doxorubicin, Fludara/Fludarabine, Pharmarubicin/Epirubicin, DepoCyt, ZD1839, LU 79553/Bis-Naphtalimide, LU 103793/Dolastain, Caetyx/liposomal doxorubicin, Gemzar/Gemcitabine, Alimta/Pemetrexed, ZD 0473/Anormed, YM 116, Iodine seeds, CDK4 and CDK2 inhibitors, PARP inhibitors, D4809/Dexifosamide, Ifes/Mesnex/Ifosamide, Vumon/Teniposide, Paraplatin/Carboplatin, Plantinol/cisplatin, Vepeside/Etoposide, ZD 9331, Taxotere/Docetaxel, prodrug of guanine arabinoside, Taxane Analog, nitrosoureas, alkylating agents such as melphelan and cyclophosphamide, Aminoglutethimide, Asparaginase, Busulfan, Carboplatin, Chlorombucil, Cytarabine HCl, Dactinomycin, Daunorubicin HCl, Estramustine phosphate sodium, Etoposide (VP16-213), Floxuridine, Fluorouracil (5-FU), Flutamide, Hydroxyurea (hydroxycarbamide), Ifosfamide, Interferon Alfa-2a, Alfa-2b, Leuprolide acetate (LHRH-releasing factor analogue), Lomustine (CCNU), Mechlorethamine HCl (nitrogen mustard), Mercaptopurine, Mesna, Mitotane (o.p′-DDD), Mitoxantrone HCl, Octreotide, Plicamycin, Procarbazine HCl, Streptozocin, Tamoxifen citrate, Thioguanine, Thiotepa, Vinblastine sulfate, Amsacrine (m-AMSA), Azacitidine, Erthropoietin, Hexamethylmelamine (HMM), Interleukin 2, Mitoguazone (methyl-GAG; methyl glyoxal bis-guanylhydrazone; MGBG), Pentostatin (2′deoxycoformycin), Semustine (methyl-CCNU), Teniposide (VM-26) or Vindesine sulfate, but it is not so limited.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent that may be loaded into a nanosphere particle using the methods described herein is an immunotherapeutic agent, for instance, Ributaxin, Herceptin, Quadramet, Panorex, IDEC-Y2B8, BEC2, C225, Oncolym, SMART M195, ATRAGEN, Ovarex, Bexxar, LDP-03, ior t6, MDX-210, MDX-11, MDX-22, OV103, 3622W94, anti-VEGF, Zenapax, MDX-220, MDX-447, MELIMMUNE-2, MELIMMUNE-1, CEACIDE, Pretarget, NovoMAb-G2, TNT, Gliomab-H, GNI-250, EMD-72000, LymphoCide, CMA 676, Monopharm-C, 4B5, ior egf.r3, ior c5, BABS, anti-FLK-2, MDX-260, ANA Ab, SMART 1D10 Ab, SMART ABL 364 Ab or ImmuRAIT-CEA, but it is not so limited.

In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent that may be loaded into a nanosphere particle using the methods described herein is an antiviral agent. Examples of anti-viral agents are: Polysulfates (PVAS), Polysulfonates (PVS), Polycarboxylates, Polyoxometalates, Chicoric acid, zintevir, cosalane derivatives, Bicyclams (i.e., AMD3100), T-22, T-134, ALX-40-4C, CGP-64222, TAK-779, AZT (azidothymidine), ddl, ddC, d4T (didehydrodideoxythymidine), 3TC (3′-thiadideoxycytidine), ABC, and other ddN (2′,3′-dideoxynucleoside) analogs, Nevirapine, delavirdine, efavirenz, emivirine (MKC-442), capravirine, thiocarboxanilide UC-781, acyclovir, valaciclovir, penciclovir, famciclovir, bromovinyldeoxyuridine (BVDU, brivudin), Cidofovir, Adefovir dipivoxil, Tenofovir disoproxil, Ribavirin, valacyclovir, gancyclovir, formivirsen, foscarnet, EICAR (5-ethynyl-1-1³-D-ribofuranosylimidazole-4-carboxamide), Mycophenolic acid, Neplanocin A, 3-deazaneplanocin A, 6′-C-methylneplanocin A, DHCeA (9-(trans-2′,trans-3′-dihydroxycyclopent-4′-enyl)adenine), or c3DHCeA (9-(trans-2′,trans-3′-dihydroxycyclopent-4′-enyl)-3-deazaadenine), as described, for example, in De Clercq, J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 2001, 297, 1-10, incorporated by reference herein, but it is not so limited.

In some embodiments, a diagnostic agent may be loaded into a nanosphere using methods described herein. A diagnostic agent may be a detectable moiety (e.g., a radioisotope, a fluorescent marker, a radio-opaque moiety, or other detectable moiety) or a molecule attached to a detectable moiety (e.g., a molecule attached to a radioisotope, referred to herein as a radiolabeled molecule). In some embodiments, a diagnostic agent may be a labeled antibody, for example an antibody that binds specifically to a disease antigen (for example a cancer antigen). In some embodiments, a diagnostic agent may be a labeled receptor binding molecule, a labeled ligand or other labeled binding molecule. In some embodiments, a diagnostic agent may be a labeled enzyme or an enzyme substrate. In some embodiments, a diagnostic agent may be a label nucleic acid, protein, lipid, carbohydrate or other molecule.

In some embodiments, one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents are encapsulated within a nanosphere. However, in some embodiments, one or more therapeutic or diagnostic agents may be attached to the surface of a nanosphere (for example using a covalent linkage, reversible linkage or an electrolyte solution). In some embodiments, a nanosphere may include both one or more encapsulated and one or more surface bound agents.

Universal Tumor Tropism

In some embodiments, nanosphere particles of the present invention exhibit universal tumor tropism. Tropism refers to the specificity of a pathogen (e.g., virus) for a host tissue and is a natural phenomenon. Typically, pathogens confer tropism for a particular tissue or cell type, for example, human immunodeficiency virus confers tropism for particular macrophage cells and T cells, while recombinant adeno-associated virus confers tropism for respiratory epithelial cells (Flotte, et al. Am. J. Respir. Cell Mol. Biol., 1992, 7, 349-356). Virion-derived nanosphere particles described herein can confer tropism for more than one, and in some instances many, different types of cancer cells. The term “universal tropism” refers to the nanosphere particle's specificity for multiple types of cancer cells, for example, breast, ovarian, lung, and bone cancer cells. Other examples of primary tumors that may be targeted or treated using the nanospheres described herein include, but are not limited to, prostate tumors, colon tumors, colo-rectal tumors, ovarian tumors, head and neck tumors, liver tumors, pancreatic tumors, renal, and brain tumors. In some embodiments, the tumor is a solid tumor. In some embodiments the tumor is a hematopoietic tumor. In some embodiments, the tumor is a primary tumor. In some embodiments, the tumor has metastasized and the nanoparticles can detect the distant metastases. In some embodiments the nanoparticles may detect the cancer stem cells within the primary tumor and the metastases.

As used herein, the term “tumor” refers to a tissue comprising transformed cells that grow uncontrollably. A tumor may be benign (benign tumor) or malignant (malignant tumor or cancer). Tumors include leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, plasmacytomas, and the like; and solid tumors. Examples of solid tumors that can be treated according to the invention include sarcomas and carcinomas such as, but not limited to: fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, myosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, epidermoid carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medullablastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, ogliodendroglioma, meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, neuroglioma, and retinoblastoma.

In some embodiments, the cancer tropism of the nanospheres described herein can be used to target therapeutic agents to cancer tissue without requiring specific targeting agents. In some embodiments, the cancer tropism of the nanospheres described herein can be used to target diagnostic agents to cancer tissue without requiring cancer specific targeting agents.

In some embodiments, nanosphere particles are delivered to particular organs or tissues (e.g., lung) or cells or subcellular locations. However, in some embodiments, nanosphere particles described herein can be administered systemically and their natural tropism results in their selective accumulation in cancer tissue.

Accordingly, in some embodiments, a therapeutically effective dose of a nanosphere is one that is sufficient to result in a therapeutic level of the agent being delivered to the target tissue of interest (e.g., the cancerous tissue). In some embodiments, the amount of agent that is delivered can be evaluated using one or more detectable agents (e.g., a detectable therapeutic agent, for example labeled with a detectable moiety, or a detectable diagnostic agent) to determine the efficiency of delivery to the target tissue. In some embodiments, the nanosphere is administered to a subject in an amount effective to treat a disease or condition.

In some embodiments, the term “therapeutically effective amount” or “amount effective” in the context of a NSP or a NSP composition for administration to a subject refers to an amount of the NSP or composition that ameliorates or treats the disease or condition.

Amounts effective will depend, in some embodiments, on the subject being treated; the severity of a condition, disease or disorder; the subject's parameters including age, physical condition, size and weight; the duration of the treatment; the nature of concurrent therapy (if any); the specific route of administration and like factors within the knowledge and expertise of the health practitioner. These factors are well known to those of ordinary skill in the art and can be addressed with no more than routine experimentation. In some embodiments, maximum dose, that is, the highest safe dose may be used according to sound medical judgment. It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, however, that a subject may insist upon a lower dose or tolerable dose for medical reasons, psychological reasons or for virtually any other reasons.

In some embodiments, the term “treat,” “treating,” or “therapeutic,” do not necessarily mean total cure or abolition of the disease or condition. In some embodiments, any alleviation of any undesired signs or symptoms of a disease or condition, to any extent, can be considered treatment or therapy. In some embodiments, treatment may include acts that may worsen the patient's overall feeling of well-being or appearance.

In some embodiments, the nanospheres are administered intravenously, intramuscular, subdermally, orally, nasally or topically. Other modes of administration may be used.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods for selectively delivering an agent to a tumor in a subject, the method comprising administering a tumor tropic nanosphere particle to a subject, wherein the tumor tropic nanosphere particle is associated with an agent, and is free of host cell and viral nucleic acid, and wherein the tumor tropic nanosphere particle comprises one or more viral capsid proteins without a heterologous targeting agent. In some embodiments, the agent is a therapeutic agent. In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent is an inorganic molecule, an organic molecule, or a biologic active molecule. In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent includes a small molecule, a protein, a peptide, an antibody, a toxin, a nucleic acid, a radioisotope, a metal, an inducer of DNA methylation, a modulator of gene expression, an immune modulator, an enzyme inhibitor, a kinase inhibitor, an apoptosis inducer, a metabolism inhibitor, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the nucleic acid is an siRNA molecule, an shRNA molecule, a microRNA, a long non coding RNA, a hybrid DNA-RNA, a DNA molecule, an antisense molecule, a viral gene cassette, or any combination thereof. In some embodiments, the therapeutic agent is a radioisotope or a radiolabeled molecule. In some embodiments, the agent is a diagnostic agent. In some embodiments, the diagnostic agent is an imaging or contrast agent. In some embodiments, the diagnostic agent is labeled with a detectable label. In some embodiments, the detectable label is a fluorescent or radioactive label.

In some embodiments, the agent is encapsulated with the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the agent is mixed with the viral capsid proteins in the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the agent is chemically linked to an amino acid of one or more capsid proteins in the nanosphere particle.

In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle is assembled from one or more viral capsid proteins or capsomeres that are isolated and purified from a host cell expression system. In some embodiments, two different viral capsid protein types are expressed from different nucleic acid constructs in the host cell expression system. In some embodiments, the one or more viral capsid proteins and capsomeres are reassembled in vitro to form virus like particles. In some embodiments, the host cell expression system is bacterial, yeast, insect, plant or mammalian host cell expression system. In some embodiments, the host cell expression system is E. coli. In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle is assembled from one or more viral capsid proteins isolated from a cell free expression system.

In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle comprises one or more capsid proteins from Herpes Simplex Virus, Polyomavirus, Papilloma Virus, Epstein Barr Virus, Rous Sarcoma Virus or Rotavirus. In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle comprises one or more Papilloma Virus capsid proteins.

In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle comprises one or more capsid proteins having an amino acid sequence alteration that modifies the immunogenicity of the capsid protein relative to a naturally-occurring capsid protein in the subject. In some embodiments, the capsid protein is a PV capsid protein having mutations that reduce or modify an PV serotype-specific immunogenicity in the subject. In some embodiments, the PV capsid protein is an L1 and/or L2 capsid protein. In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle comprises a PV L1 capsid protein without any L2 capsid protein. In some embodiments, at least one viral capsid protein is modified to prevent an immunogenicity response in the host. In some embodiments, the modification is a PEGylation.

In some embodiments, the subject has cancer, the agent is an anti-cancer agent, and the nanosphere particle is administered in an amount sufficient to deliver a therapeutically effective dose of the agent to the cancer. In some embodiments, the cancer is a solid-tumor with or without metastases and with or without cancer stem cells. In some embodiments, the disease is a pre-malignant tumor. In some embodiments, the agent is a diagnostic agent and the subject is being screened for one or more indicia of cancer. In some embodiments, the cancer is selected from the group consisting of leukemias, lymphomas, myelomas, plasmacytomas, sarcomas, carcinomas, fibrosarcoma, myxosarcoma, liposarcoma, chondrosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, chordoma, angiosarcoma, endotheliosarcoma, lymphangiosarcoma, lymphangioendotheliosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, myosarcoma, colon carcinoma, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, prostate cancer, squamous cell carcinoma, basal cell carcinoma, epidermoid carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, sweat gland carcinoma, sebaceous gland carcinoma, papillary carcinoma, papillary adenocarcinomas, cystadenocarcinoma, medullary carcinoma, bronchogenic carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, hepatoma, bile duct carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, seminoma, embryonal carcinoma, Wilm's tumor, cervical cancer, testicular tumor, lung carcinoma, small cell lung carcinoma, bladder carcinoma, epithelial carcinoma, glioma, astrocytoma, medullablastoma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoma, pinealoma, hemangioblastoma, acoustic neuroma, ogliodendroglioma, meningioma, melanoma, neuroblastoma, neuroglioma, and retinoblastoma.

In some embodiments, the cancer is present at two or more separate locations in the subject.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods for preparing a nanosphere particle for selectively delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a cancer in a subject, the method comprising, obtain viral capsid proteins without any host or viral nucleic acid, and reassembling the capsid proteins in the presence of a therapeutic or diagnostic agent. In some embodiments, the capsomere is obtained from a host cell expression system and purified. In some embodiments, the capsid proteins are from a tumor tropic virus. In some embodiments, the tumor tropic virus is PV. In some embodiments, the capsid protein contains an amino acid sequence alteration or amino acid modification that changes the immunogenicity of the nanosphere particle in the subject.

In some embodiments, PV L1 and L2 capsid proteins are used. In some embodiments, PV L1 capsid protein is used, but no L2 capsid protein is used.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of producing human papillomavirus (PV) nanosphere particles loaded with an agent comprising: recombinantly expressing mutant PV L1 and wild-type PV L2 capsid proteins, or mutant PV L1 without any PV L2 capsid proteins in vitro in E. coli cells, wherein the mutant PV L1 capsid protein has mutations that differs from the wt HPV; isolating the L1 and L2 capsomeres, or L1 capsomeres; combining the capsid protein capsomeres with the agent and reassembly buffer containing salt and HEPES buffer, or salt and Histidine-HCl; and dialyzing the combination of protein and buffer to produce HPV nanosphere particles loaded with the agent. In some embodiments, the reassembly buffer contains 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, and 40 mM HEPES (pH 6.8), or (2) 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, and 40 mM Histidine-HCl (pH 5.2).

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods of delivering and evaluating a cancer therapy comprising: a) identifying a subject with cancer; b) labeling tumor tropic nanosphere particles; c) loading the tumor tropic nanosphere particles with a therapeutic agent; d) administering a detectable amount of the nanosphere particles to the subject; and e) determining the presence or amount of the nanosphere particles in the subject during and after a period of a treatment. In some embodiments, the label is selected from the group consisting of fluorescent, radioactive, and chemiluminescent. In some embodiments, the nanosphere particle comprises a variant PV-L1 protein having a mutation(s) that makes it immunogenically different from the wt HPV-16 serotype.

Provided herein are compositions for the treatment or diagnosis of cancer cells, the composition comprising a therapeutic or diagnostic agent formulated with a nanosphere particle, wherein the nanosphere particle comprises structural proteins from HSV, RSV, Polyoma, PV, Epstein Barr or Rotavirus.

Also provided herein are compositions for the treatment or diagnosis of cancer cells, the composition comprising a therapeutic or diagnostic agent formulated with a nanosphere particle, wherein the nanosphere particle comprises a mutated or modified PV L1 protein, wherein the mutation or modification reduces or modifies the PV serotype specific immunogenicity of the nanosphere particle. In some embodiments, the mutation or modification reduces or modifies HPV-16 serotype specific immunogenicity.

EXAMPLES Example 1 Production of Mutant L1* and L2 Capsid Proteins in E. coli Cell System (FIG. 2A)

Purification of VLPs by Sucrose Gradient Centrifugation

Make a stock solution of 65% sucrose by dissolving 32.5 g of crystalline sucrose (Fisher cat. #57-50-1) to a final volume of 50 ml sample buffer. Sample buffer used for VLP purification is 0.5M NaCl (American Bioanalytical cat. # AB01915) in sterile 1×PBS (Boston BioProducts cat. # BM 220S).

Make different concentrations of sucrose solution as described in Table 1 by mixing appropriate volumes of 65% sucrose stock solution (Step 1) in sample buffer.

TABLE 1 ml Final 65% ml sucrose % stock buffer 50 7.69 2.31 40 6.15 3.85 30 4.62 5.38 20 3.08 6.92 10 1.54 8.46

Gently overlay decreasing concentrations of sucrose (highest concentration at the bottom) in a Beckman Polyallomer centrifuge tube (Cat. #326819). The volumes of different sucrose concentrations in the tube are as follows:

65%  0.5 ml 50%  0.5 ml 40% 0.75 ml 30% 0.75 ml 20% 0.75 ml 10% 0.75 ml-1 ml

Keep the gradient undisturbed at room temperature for 45 min. Gently load clarified lysate supernatant on top of the sucrose gradient without disturbing the layers below.

Centrifuge the tubes at 45,000 rpm at 4° C. for 2 hrs in a SW55Ti rotor (Beckman Coulter, Inc.).

Gently remove the tubes from the rotor and collect 0.2 ml fractions from bottom of the centrifuge tube. Analyze fractions by SDS-PAGE and BCA assay for total protein.

Purification of NSPs Using Heparin HiTrap Column

After first centrifugation, if the homogenate is still turbid—re-centrifuged at 15,000 g for 30 min.

Recover clarified homogenate from and store at −80° C. until use.

Add 0.01% Tween 80 to clarified homogenate.

Dialyze into PBS supplemented to 0.25 M NaCl, 2 mM DTT, 0.01% Tween 80, pH 7.4—overnight at 4° C. with three changes of buffer.

Equilibrate 1-mL HiTrap Heparin HP with 10 column volumes (CV) of dialysis buffer.

Load entire volume of dialyzed homogenate onto Heparin column at ˜0.1 mL/min.

After loading, chase sample with ˜2 CV of dialysis buffer.

Elute column with step gradient of increasing NaCl concentration—all steps contain PBS plus 1 mM DTT, 0.01% Tween 80-2.5 CV of each step: 0.4, 0.6, 0.8, 1.0 & 1.5 M NaCl.

Collect 1.0 mL fractions of flow-through from loading and 0.5-mL fractions during elution.

Determined absorbance of fractions at 260, 280 & 340 nm.

Analyze load flow-through and NaCl gradient elution fractions by reducing SDS-PAGE on Bio-Rad TGX Any kD gels—stained with Coomassie R-250.

Purification of NSPs by Size-Exclusion Chromatography

Preparation of an agarose gel filtration column.

De-gas the DPBS-BSA solution by exposure to vacuum.

Clamp the column to a ring stand. Put the bottom cap on and add 5 ml of DPBS/0.5 M NaCl.

Remove the bottom cap to eject any bubbles. Recap and add more DPBS/0.5 M NaCl. Fill to near the top of the column.

Float a frit on the surface. Gently tap the frit to dislodge any air bubbles. Tap frit down to the bottom of the column using a 1- or 5-ml pipet (or the serum separator).

Remove the bottom cap and drain out most of the fluid.

Suspend the agarose beads by gently swirling and inverting the bottle. Pour bead slurry into the column. Fill the column to the rim.

Remove the bottom cap. Partially exchange the beads into room-temperature DPBS-BSA by repeatedly allowing the column to drip to near dryness then pouring on more DPBS-BSA.

Replace the bottom cap. Cover the top of the column with Parafilm. Suspend beads by repeated gentle inversion of the column. Return the column to the clamp and allow blocking and settling overnight at room temperature.

Remove Parafilm. Float a frit on the fluid surface and gently tap down to within a few mm of the bed surface.

Remove the cap from the bottom of the column. Wash the column with at least 10 column volumes of DPBS/0.5 M NaCl.

Optional: If capsids are being purified out of crude cell lysate add 1 μl of Benzonase nuclease and incubate 10 to 30 min at 37° C. to digest any residual unencapsidated DNA.

Add 0.5 ml or less (i.e., less than 1/10 of the agarose bed volume) of clarified lysate (or capsids in Optiprep) to the washed agarose gel filtration column.

Apply 0.25 ml of DPBS/0.5 M NaCl to the top of the column. Collect column eluate in a siliconized 1.5-ml tube. Repeat this for a total of 12 0.25-ml fractions.

Screen fractions for encapsidated DNA and protein.

Regenerate columns for re-use by washing the column with 10 column volumes of DPBS/0.5 M NaCl, then exchanging into DPBS-BSA supplemented with 0.05% (w/v) NaN3 or other preservative. Store the column at room temperature for several days.

After column purification samples were analyzed by Electron Microscopy showing assembled particles (FIG. 3B).

Example 2 Production of Mutant L1* and L2 Capsid Proteins in Mammalian Cell System (FIGS. 4A & B)

Plasmids containing human-optimized codon sequences were used to produce HPV16/31L1 mutant (L1*) and a HPV16L2 capsid proteins using a mammalian cell culture system, as follows.

HPV L1/L2 nanosphere particles and L1 only nanosphere particles were added to disassembly buffer (0.5 M NaCl, 10 mM DTT (Dithiothreitol), 20 mM EDTA (Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), 50 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0)) to reach a final concentration of 0.05 mg/ml. The solution was incubated overnight at 37° C.

The HPV nanosphere particles were then concentrated to between 0.1-0.2 mg/ml using 100 kD spin columns. DNA or siRNA was added at a ratio of 1 μg of nucleic acid for every 5 μg of nanosphere particle. The resultant mixture was dialyzed using 100 kD cut-off dialysis tubing against one of two reassembly buffers: (1) 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, 40 mM HEPES (pH 6.8); or (2) 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, 40 mM Histidine-HCl (pH 5.2). The reassembly buffer was changed three times overnight (˜12-16 hours) during the dialysis.

To remove free (unencapsidated) DNA, the reassembled nanosphere particles were treated with Benzonase endonuclease (1 U/μg of input DNA) for 10 minutes at room temperature. The Benzonase endonuclease was removed by one of three ways: (1) chemical inactivation using 0.5 M NaCl+80 mM EDTA for 1 hour at room temperature; (2) column removal using a 100 kD spin column to remove the endonuclease and replace the volume with an appropriate reassembly buffer; or (3) purification over an Optiprep (Iodixanol) gradient, following methods described (Buck and Thompson, Current Protocols in Cell Biology, December 2007, 26.1.1-26.1.19).

Removal of free DNA was achieved in one of two ways: (1) column removal using a 100 kD spin column to remove the free DNA and replace the volume with appropriate reassembly buffer; or (2) purification over an Iodixanol gradient, following methods described (Buck and Thompson (2007)).

Quantitation of encapsidated or nanosphere particle-associated nucleic acid was achieved by: (1) digesting the particles in buffer containing 0.01 U Proteinase K, 0.25% SDS, and 25 mM EDTA to liberate the nucleic acid from the protein (Buck and Thompson (2007)); (2) running DNA samples on a 1% agarose gel (TAE buffer+GelRed dye), or running siRNA samples on a 3% agarose gel (TAE Buffer+GelRed dye) with a molecular weight (MW) marker and a standard of the same encapsidated material ranging from 1 μg to 1 ng; and (3) quantitating the liberated nucleic acid using Image J software (Buck and Thompson (2007)).

Loading Protocol of negatively charged drugs by passive diffusion inside particles: Disassembly protocol for modifying open pores with no disassembly, followed by drug and closing of the pores is the same disassembly protocol described above except that the incubation period is lessened to 2 hours at room temperature instead of overnight at 37° C.

Loading of drugs by chemical conjugation (iodine): Iodixanol is eliminated to enable appropriate binding of Iodine, followed by purification methods. Particles can be purified using a Cesium Chloride gradient, a sucrose gradient, or agarose gel filtration in lieu of Iodixanol. Binding of iodine is done to the exposed histidines in the structure of the protein (FIG. 4B).

Example 3 Biodistribution Study in Parental SKOV3 Orthotopic Tumor Model with Spontaneous Metastasis (FIGS. 5A &B)

An orthotopic murine model for ovarian cancer with spontaneous metastases was used to compare the specificity and efficiency of the nanosphere particle of the present invention with a human papilloma virus (HPV) virus-like particle (VLP) (also referred to herein as PsV particles) for measuring biodistribution. Three groups of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) female mice received implantation of SKOV3 (ATCC) parental tumor cell line by unilateral ovarian graft. The experiment was designed to compare HPV pseudovirus (PsV) particles to the nanosphere particles of the present invention. Subjects in group 3 received a single intraperitoneal injection of nanosphere particles (0.65 ml) when tumor sizes reached medium to large by palpitation on day 77 post-tumor implantation.

FIG. 5A shows the results of in vivo bioluminescent signals as 48 hours after dosing. FIG. 5B shows the results of ex vivo tissue bioluminescent imaging of the primary tumor and tumors metastasized to the lung, the liver, the spleen GI-LN, the femur and the brain at 48 hours post dosing.

Example 4 Biodistribution Study in SKOV-3 Mice Comparing Pseudovirions to Nanosphere Particles (FIGS. 6A & B)

In comparing the total luminescence shown between the negative control group, the PsV particles, and the nanosphere particles, the nanosphere particles according to the present invention were shown to produce better distinction which is evidence of a better treatment option. The method of producing forming nanosphere particles eliminates the possibility of introducing host cell DNA. Also, the nanosphere particles exhibit inherent tumor tropism. Thus, the nanosphere particle is a cleaner, more efficient vector for delivery of therapeutic and diagnostic agents, as compared to existing virion-derived particles.

Protocol (FIG. 4A)

For 12 mice receiving PsV particles, a 0.5 μg DNA equivalent is delivered for the following constructs:

16modLuc (Luciferase expression, 9.9.11RK)—0.43 ng DNA/10 μl→0.5 μg=11.6 μl/mouse (an amount sufficient for 16 mice should be made to account for loss: 185.6 μl PsV for 16 mice).

16modRwB (Red fluorescent protein (RFP) expression, 9.9.11RK)—0.41 ng DNA/10 μl→0.5 μg=12.20/mouse (an amount sufficient for 16 mice should be made to account for loss: 195.2 μl PsV for 16 mice).

A preparation is made by combining 185.5 μl of Luc with 195.2 μl of RwB HPV=380.7 μl. This is diluted with 1.6193 mls of sterile DPBS for a VT=2.0 mls. This is mixed well immediately prior to injection, deliver 125 μl/mouse is delivered.

For 20 mice receiving nanosphere particles, a 1 μg DNA equivalent is delivered.

An amount sufficient for 25 mice should be made to account for loss (for 25 mice, the amount should be doubled just in case of loss, so an amount sufficient for 50 mice should be made). The current loading method appears to yield an approximate 50% recovery of loaded DNA, therefore to deliver 1 μg, sufficient “doses” should be made to provide 2 μg/mouse.

A ratio of 5 μg protein: 1 μg DNA is used (for 50 mice, 500 μg protein:100 μg DNA is used). The following steps are performed:

Day one—Disassembly using HV16mod L1/L2 VLPs (RK 09.16.11@1.1 mg/ml).

VLPs are disassembled in 50 mM Tris (pH 8.0)/0.5 M NaCl/20 mM EDTA/10 mM DTT—Protein CF=0.05 mg/ml in 20 ml O/N @ 37° C.

Day two—DLS to ensure disassembly—notice some aggregates—60 seconds sonicate.

Using a 100 kD spin column, disassembled particles are concentrated down to 0.2 mg/ml (5 mls). The result is split into two reactions—2.5 mls each. The disassembled particles are combined with 100 μg of plasmid DNA and placed into a 5 ml float-a-lyzer (100 kD). For pCLucF plasmid stock at 0.9 mg/ml, a 111 μl volume is used for 100 μg. For pRwB plasmid stock at 1.3 mg/ml, a 77 μl volume is used for 100 μg. This is dialyzed against 40 mM HEPES (pH 6.8)/0.5 M NaCl/5 mM CaCl2—overnight at room temperature, with three buffer changes.

Day Three—Samples are Collected and Analyzed for DNA and Protein Content.

16modLuc (10.18.11DD)—0.175 ng DNA/10 μl→1.0 μg=57 μl/mouse. Make enough for 25 mice to account for loss. 1.425 ml HPV Luc for 25 mice. 16modRwB (10.18.11DD)—0.197 ng DNA/10 μl→1.0 μg=50.8 μl/mouse. Make enough for 25 mice to account for loss. 1.27 ml HPV RFP for 25 mice. Combine 1.425 ml of Luc with 1.27 ml of RFP HPV=2.695 ml. Diluted with 0.43 μl of sterile HEPES buffer for a VT=3.125 mls. For the best results, it is imperative to mix well immediately prior to injection—deliver 125 μl/mouse.

Day four—Mice are injected.

EQUIVALENTS AND SCOPE

Those skilled in the art will recognize or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. The scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above Description, but rather is as set forth in the appended claims.

In the claims articles such as “a,” “an,” and “the” may mean one or more than one unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. Claims or descriptions that include “or” between one or more members of a group are considered satisfied if one, more than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process unless indicated to the contrary or otherwise evident from the context. The invention includes embodiments in which exactly one member of the group is present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process. The invention includes embodiments in which more than one, or all of the group members are present in, employed in, or otherwise relevant to a given product or process.

Furthermore, it is to be understood that the invention encompasses all variations, combinations, and permutations in which one or more limitations, elements, clauses, descriptive terms, etc., from one or more of the listed claims is introduced into another claim. For example, any claim that is dependent on another claim can be modified to include one or more limitations found in any other claim that is dependent on the same base claim.

Where elements are presented as lists, e.g., in Markush group format, it is to be understood that each subgroup of the elements is also disclosed, and any element(s) can be removed from the group. It should it be understood that, in general, where the invention, or aspects of the invention, is/are referred to as comprising particular elements, features, etc., some embodiments of the invention or aspects of the invention consist, or consist essentially of, such elements, features, etc. For purposes of simplicity those embodiments have not been specifically set forth in haec verba herein. It is also noted that the term “comprising” is intended to be open and permits the inclusion of additional elements or steps.

Where ranges are given, endpoints are included. Furthermore, it is to be understood that unless otherwise indicated or otherwise evident from the context and understanding of one of ordinary skill in the art, values that are expressed as ranges can assume any specific value or sub-range within the stated ranges in different embodiments of the invention, to the tenth of the unit of the lower limit of the range, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

In addition, it is to be understood that any some embodiment of the present invention that falls within the prior art may be explicitly excluded from any one or more of the claims. Since such embodiments are deemed to be known to one of ordinary skill in the art, they may be excluded even if the exclusion is not set forth explicitly herein. Any some embodiment of the methods of the invention can be excluded from any one or more claims, for any reason, whether or not related to the existence of prior art.

Each of the foregoing patents, patent applications and references is hereby incorporated by reference, particularly for the teaching referenced herein. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of selectively delivering an agent to at least one tumor in a subject, the method comprising administering a tumor tropic nanosphere particle to a subject, wherein the tumor tropic nanosphere particle comprises mutated or modified human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein without a heterologous targeting agent, is associated with an agent, and is free of host cell nucleic acid and viral nucleic acid.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the nanosphere particle comprises wild-type HPV L2 capsid protein.
 3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein has an amino acid sequence alteration that modifies, in the subject, HPV serotype-specific immunogenicity of the capsid protein relative to a naturally-occurring capsid protein.
 4. The method of any one of claims 1-3, wherein the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein has an amino acid sequence alteration that prevents, in the subject, HPV serotype-specific immunogenicity of the capsid protein relative to a naturally-occurring capsid protein.
 5. The method of any one of claims 1-4, wherein the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein is a mutated HPV-16 capsid protein, a mutated HPV-31 L1 capsid protein, or a combination thereof.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein comprises the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:2.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the modified HPV L1 capsid protein has an amino acid that is PEGylated.
 8. The method of any one of claims 1-7, wherein the at least one tumor is pre-malignant or malignant.
 9. The method of any one of claims 1-8, wherein the at least one tumor is metastatic.
 10. The method of any one of claims 1-9, wherein the at least one tumor is a non-mucosal tumor.
 11. The method of any one of claims 1-10, wherein the at least one tumor is a solid tumor.
 12. The method of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the at least one tumor contains cancer stem cells.
 13. The method of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the at least one tumor is an astrocytoma, an atypical teratoid rhaboid tumor, a bone or connective tissue tumor, a brain cyst, a choroid plexus tumor, a craniopharyngioma, an ependymoma, a germ cell tumor, a glioblastoma, a glioma, a hemangioma, a juvenile pilocytic astrocytoma, a lipoma, a lymphoma, a medulloblastoma, a meningioma, a neurofibroma, a neuronal tumor, a mixed neuronal-glial tumor, an oligoastrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma, a pineal tumor, a pituitary tumor, a primitive neuroectodermal tumor or a schwannoma.
 14. The method of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the at least one tumor is located in the breast, cervix, ovary, testis, prostate, lung, lymph node, stomach, intestine, colon, brain, or a combination thereof.
 15. The method of any one of claims 1-14, wherein the agent is a therapeutic agent.
 16. The method of any one of claims 1-15, wherein the agent is an anti-cancer agent.
 17. The method of claim 16, wherein the anti-cancer agent is delivered to the subject in a therapeutically effective amount to treat the tumor.
 18. The method of any one of claims 1-16, wherein the therapeutic agent is an inorganic molecule, an organic molecule or a biologic active molecule.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the therapeutic agent comprises a small molecule, a protein, a peptide, an antibody, a toxin, a nucleic acid, a radioisotope, a radiolabeled molecule, a metal, an inducer of DNA methylation, a modulator of gene expression, an immune modulator, an enzyme inhibitor, a kinase inhibitor, an apoptosis inducer, a metabolism inhibitor, or any combination thereof.
 20. The method of claim 19, wherein the therapeutic agent is a radioisotope or a radiolabeled molecule.
 21. The method of claim 19, wherein the nucleic acid is an siRNA molecule, an shRNA molecule, a microRNA, a long non coding RNA, a hybrid DNA-RNA, a DNA molecule, an antisense molecule, a viral gene cassette, or any combination thereof.
 22. The method any one of claims 1-14, wherein the agent is a diagnostic agent.
 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the diagnostic agent is an imaging agent or a contrast agent.
 24. The method of claim 22 or 23, wherein the diagnostic agent is labeled with a detectable label.
 25. The method of claim 24, wherein the detectable label is a fluorescent or radioactive label.
 26. The method of any one of claims 1-25, wherein the agent is encapsulated with the nanosphere particle.
 27. The method of any one of claims 1-26, wherein the agent is mixed with the capsid proteins in the nanosphere particle.
 28. The method of any one of claims 1-27, wherein the agent is chemically linked to an amino acid of one or more capsid proteins in the nanosphere particle.
 29. The method of any one of claims 1-28, wherein the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein is expressed, isolated and purified as a monomer or as an oligomeric capsomere from a host cell expression system.
 30. The method of any one of claims 2-29, wherein the mutated HPV L1 capsid protein and the L2 capsid protein are expressed from different nucleic acids in a host cell expression system.
 31. The method of claim 29 or 30, wherein the host cell expression system is a bacterial, a yeast, an insect, a plant or a mammalian host cell expression system.
 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the bacterial host cell expression system is an Escherichia coli host cell expression system.
 33. The method of any one of claims 29-32, wherein the capsid proteins and/or capsomeres are assembled in vitro to form the nanosphere particle.
 34. A method of producing a nanosphere particle for selectively delivering a therapeutic or diagnostic agent to a tumor in a subject, the method comprising, providing mutated or modified human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein that is free of host cell nucleic acid and viral nucleic acid, and reassembling the capsid protein in the presence of a therapeutic agent or diagnostic agent.
 35. A method of producing a nanosphere particle loaded with a therapeutic or diagnostic agent, the method comprising, recombinantly expressing mutated human papillomavirus (HPV) L1 capsid protein mutant and wild-type HPV L2 capsid protein in bacterial cells; isolating mutated HPV L1 capsid protein, wild-type HPV L2 capsid protein, mutated HPV L1 capsomeres, mutated HPV L1/wild-type L2 capsomeres, or a combination thereof; combining the capsid proteins and/or capsomeres with the agent and reassembly buffer containing salt and HEPES buffer, or salt and Histidine-HCl buffer; and dialyzing the combination of protein and reassembly buffer to produce HPV nanosphere particles loaded with the agent.
 36. The method of claim 35, wherein the reassembly buffer contains 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, and 40 mM HEPES (pH 6.8), or (2) 0.5M NaCl, 5 mM CaCl2, and 40 mM Histidine-HCl (pH 5.2).
 37. A method of delivering and evaluating a cancer therapy comprising: (a) identifying a subject with cancer; (b) labeling tumor tropic nanosphere particles; (c) loading the tumor tropic nanosphere particles with a therapeutic agent; (d) administering a detectable amount of the nanosphere particles to the subject; and (e) determining the presence or amount of the nanosphere particles in the subject during and after a period of a treatment.
 38. The method of claim 37, wherein the label is selected from the group consisting of a fluorescent label, a radioactive label and a chemiluminescent label. 